Temper Tantrums: How do you handle them?

Having already half-raised my two older children, I thought I knew how to handle temper tantrums and get the kiddos to behave and listen. But just like my mother always told me... boys are wired way differently than girls, so my son is like a new textbook for me. I have to learn him!

He isn't even 2 yet, but throws himself on the floor, his head back, kicks, screams, and generally gets angry when someone takes something away from him. He also likes to tease you - if I ask him, "Can I have that?" he pretends to hand it to me, saying, "Here you go!" and then yanks it back and takes off.

Sometimes he even gets mad when I try to put clothes on him. Any particular reason why boys like to be naked???

With a realization that spanking just generally doesn't work, what is something that you can do about a child throwing a fit?

Since they do it for attention or to try to convince you to let them have their way, the WORST thing a parent can do is give in! I generally just let him throw his fit and walk away like I don't care. This makes him stop freaking out fairly quickly, but he stays a little angry for a while, purposely getting into my books or yanking papers off of my desk. What a stinker!

Every child is different, so it's important to adjust disciplinary measures to the child. My oldest responds horribly to punishment... she responds much better to positive reinforcement.

What are some of your favorite ways to get YOUR kids to stop throwing a fit? Do you have any amusing temper tantrum stories to share?

When I was a child, my mother used to have to splash cool water in my face to get me to stop screaming =). Apparently I was a stinker, too!

The adventures of being a toddler....

When a baby gets to a certain age, he or she starts walking... talking... climbing... yelling... getting into all of your stuff... throwing his or her food... etc... etc... etc.

So how do you handle each issue? They really don't know any better yet and absolutely have to have their way... at all times. NO exceptions!

Well, at least that's how my son is. My daughters were different; very quiet as babies, not quite so rambunctious, not so bouncy or climb-y. Maybe it's a boy thing...?

I've had to get creative with teaching him what not to do. I originally tried lightly tapping his hand and only accomplished giggles and a slap in the face for Mommy. Ouch!

He still doesn't understand why I don't want him on my computer chair, throwing all of my papers/CD's on the floor....

But the best part is he has a huge vocabulary and is constantly learning. He's a parrot, repeating everything, and a sponge... learning, learning, learning!!!

What is your favorite TV channel for your toddler?

The day's lessons: kids never want to clean their own room, no matter how much they love helping everywhere else. If the baby falls asleep while eating, he'll wake up angry for being uncomfortable. Lastly... 8-year-old girls are EXTREMELY emotional.