Here are 5 practical steps to nip this frustrating attitude in the bud

Do the Hunger Test

Sometimes, children become cranky as a result of hunger. So the first thing to do is to try to give him food or fruits to establish that this tantrum is not based on the discomfort that comes with hunger. If he eats his food and becomes quiet after, then the tantrum was not a sign of manipulation. However, if he has eaten his meal at about that time or throws the food away, it is very clear that he is trying to play with your mind.

Remove Dangerous Objects

Children throw tantrums in the bid to manipulate their parents and appeal to their emotional side. The more you give a child the chance to win at this, the better the child becomes at wielding this weapon. Once you issue an instruction to your child and he proceeds to start a tantrum to the point of falling to the ground and throwing his legs in the air, just hold your peace and remove every sharp object in sight. If he is fond of hitting his head on the floor to pass his message across, put pillows around him. That way, he won’t hurt himself as you take the rest of the steps.

Take Away Eye Contact

The only way to control your child and get him to desist from this silly behavior is to deny him of unnecessary attention. Once your child gets on the floor, just remove eye contact as a way of telling him/her that you are not buying his idea. Do other things within that space to keep an eye on him while ensuring that he knows you are not interested in giving in to him.

Ignore Him

If removing eye contact has not given you the result you yearn for, leave the setting. It is possible that he will run after you and try to put up a show in your presence, just pretend like you are not interested in his display. Turn your back to him, go to the kitchen and cook, turn on music and play with his siblings while checking on him from time to time (without making it obvious). This will help him to understand that you mean business and you are not his puppet.

Speak to Him

After some minutes of following the first four steps stated above, you should notice a measure of calmness in your child. He would definitely feel tired after many minutes of wailing uncontrollably. This means that the noise level would have gone down and he should be lying down on the floor or sitting peacefully. This is the time to move close to him, bend until you establish eye contact at his level and speak to him in a very quiet voice. Make sure love and firmness shine through as you tell him why you left him by himself. You can say the following to him. “Tolu, do you know why I left you alone? I left you alone because you did not do the right thing. Crying is not the way to express yourself; I will not answer you if you do so. Next time tell me what you want without crying and I will listen to you” Make sure he/she is listening and encourage him to respond in his own way by nodding or speaking. After that, reiterate that you want the best for him which is why you gave an instruction. This will not only help him understand your point of view, it will also give him the confidence to speak up next time.

Note: These steps must be followed with discretion, don’t leave him by himself for long. Make sure you check on him to see how he is doing. Ensure that you carry your spouse along so that your child does not cause division or quarrel. It is important to let a child know that mum & dad are a team where discipline is concerned. It is not something you do once, it is like therapy. Repetition will help drive home the point and help you both bond properly. If you do this for months and still hit a brick wall, you might want to re-evaluate that child for autism or other challenges.

The post Breaking Bad Habits: 5 Ways to Curb Tantrums in Children appeared first on Hermaze | Relationship, Beauty, Fashion, Family Articles for Women.

Let’s assume you have tried all you can and the child does not bulge. These 10 tips will help you win the fight against bedtime woes.

Everyone Goes to Bed at The Same Time

When it is time to go to bed, ensure everyone gets involved. Do not just send the children off to bed without you also going to bed. Once it is bedtime, then everyone goes to bed. Staying awake while putting the children in bed makes it difficult for the children to get some sleep. You all go to bed at the same time to ensure the children sleep on time, once you are assured they are settled in, you can then move on to do some other things.

Allow Your Child Go By The Bedtime Pattern

Ideally children need between 9 and 12 hours of sleep each night, but sometimes sleep needs and patterns differ. Most children have patterns that don’t change much, no matter the days’ hardship, stress or whatever may have been done. An early riser will still get up early even if you put them to bed later and one who sleeps really late won’t usually fall asleep until their body is ready. Know how much sleep your child needs in order to wake up refreshed and you can set an appropriate bedtime.

Always Prepare Them For Bed Every Night

This is especially important for infants, toddlers and children in general. Doing specific things before bed, such as bath and story time- this can be called bed time routines. Preparing them for bed is comforting and relaxing. It sets the perfect bedtime atmosphere, it makes them sleep deep all night long. As you continue in this, the child’s body automatically starts to become sleepy at the beginning of their routine.

The TV Should be off at Least Two Hours Before Bedtime

Research has shown that the light rays from the screen of electronic devices e.g television, phone, tablet, computer etc. interfere with the production of the hormone melatonin. Melatonin is an important piece of sleep-wake cycles. When melatonin levels are at their highest, most people are sleepy and ready for bed. Just a half an hour of TV before bed can mess with that enough to keep your child up an extra two hours!

Reduce Play Times Before Bedtime

Another hormone that plays a role in sleep is cortisol, also known as the “stress hormone.” Play times are high over-excited times. When cortisol levels are high, your child’s body won’t be able to shut down and go to sleep. Ensure bedtime activities are calm, the lights dim (sometimes it is not advisable that the lights are off, most children are scared of the dark), and the environment quiet will help avoid excess amount of cortisol in your child’s system.

Make the Bedroom Comfortable for Sleep

Too many toys can make it so difficult to put your child to sleep. Clear the bed, use warm clean sheets, soft pillows, room-darkening shades, well ventilated room and relative quiet will not only help your child differentiate between day and night but set the right atmosphere/temperature, making it easier to fall asleep.

Help Your Child Deal With Night Fears/Scares

Some children experience inability to sleep as a result of bedtime fears/fear of the dark. Instead of dismissing bedtime fears, address them. If simple reassurance doesn’t work, you can try buying a special toy to stand guard at night or spray the room with “monster spray” before bed. (A can of air freshener could pass for the monster spray…lol)

Change The “Sleep” Mindset

Just like adults, kids can have trouble shutting their brains off for the night. Most children dread the night because of bedtime, they see sleep as punishment as it prevents them from being active/playful. Instead of increasing that anxiety by insisting it is time to sleep, consider focusing more on the idea of relaxation and calming your child’s body down. Talk to your child, make him/her see the importance of bedtime. In fact go the extra mile to strike a deal say for instance more sleep equals more fun times etc.

After following these tips and your child continues to have trouble falling or staying asleep during the night, you may begin to consider the possibility of a sleep disorder. Talk to a paediatrician about your concerns, this will get the child the needed help.

The post Bedtime Woes- 8 Tips to Keep your Child Asleep Through The Night appeared first on Hermaze | Relationship, Beauty, Fashion, Family Articles for Women.