Throwing a tantrum with your child??

[nova22]

My dad and stepmother saw a show on TV about dealing with a fussy toddler. They advised to do this: When DS is throwing a tantrum, get down on the floor and pretend to throw a tantrum with him. Kick, scream, throw stuff. Their reasoning: Toddlers are on a level with "cavemen" and cannot understand logic. Therefore you have to mimic their behavior to show that you understand their frustration. Has anyone else heard this advice? It sounded pretty out there to me. When DS is throwing a tantrum I have never had to resort to anything like that to make him stop. He responds very well to distraction and good old-fashioned love and hugs. If he gets really bad he will almost always calm down if I very softly start singing one of his favorite songs. He will become quiet so he can hear me sing, then start "singing" with me. Tantrum forgotten.

[NatureMama3]

I've heard it, tried it with the twins a few times (when they were younger and I grew fleece on my back:LOL).

gasoline+fire. not a good thing.

Now of course I realize it's insulting to them and not acknowledging their feelings.

[Butter]

I've done it once and it worked beautifully. Of course my daughter was already 4 and having an all out tantrum because we would not give her candy. She was not hungry, not tired, just basically mad. So I said I had had it and threw a tantrum myself (it was really fun, actually). We were both laughing pretty quickly because, well, it really was silly. She asked me if she had really looked like that when she was screaming and I told her yes. She has never thrown a tantrum since (not that I would expect a 4 year old to, but she can be awfully intense sometimes). I don't think I'd do it though if a toddler was throwing a tantrum. I don't think they can really understand it and I don't think it really shows you understand their frustration either.