Parenting Pointers: Defusing Tantrums

Here are some tips adapted from Parenting magazine to defuse tantrums:

- Have your child clap his or her hand over the mouth and "hold the yell" until you are outside. "I can't hear you here with all these people around."
- Tell your child, "The tantrum place today is in aisle 12/in front of McDonald's/by the blue wall. You can't yell here. Wait until we get there."
- Have them feel important by holding something special for you as a big helper.
- "Anyone yelling gets flipped upside down/tickled/spun around." - and make good on it!
- If your child is really at the end of his or her rope, acknowledge that patience has run out and remove him or her from the situation.