That’s disappointing and not fun!” Don’t offer suggestions yet, but let your child settle a bit. Say, “I see you’re very upset that we can’t stay and play. Are you able to comply with the request that sent them into this tantrum? If not, you can empathize with them this often makes them feel heard enough to calm down. Try your best to do so without calling too much attention to the behavior, as that may increase your child’s frustration, causing them to intensify their self-harm.Įmpathize with your child: In doing so, try to address their needs.
Many kids throw themselves onto the ground in the middle of a walkway or public place, and most people will give them leeway, but do make sure they’re not somewhere they’ll be trampled or hurt.ĭon’t call attention to the head banging: If your child is banging their head, you might be tempted to block them to keep them from actually hitting the hard surface. Ensure your child is safe: Make sure your child is in a safe location.
