By Wendy J. Wallace, DO, President of CCF

When behavior interrupts the perfect day, what can a parent do? It is so easy to react!

Unfortunately, that can feed the behavior for the next time—if you press a button and something happens, you press the button again. First, I would make sure your child is safe—out of the way of traffic or near items that could hurt them. Then breathe and think: are they hungry? Are they tired? Are they overwhelmed? Are they scared?

Give the child time to emote, and then give them options—allow them to choose. Do you want a hug or a walk? Do you want a drink of water or a snack? Keep the options simple, immediate, and available—an ice cream is not available!

Once the emotions are decreasing, you can talk to your child and say, “Thank you for letting me know how you feel. It’s hard being little and knowing what you need. Mom and Dad are here to help you learn how to grow up!”

Helping children navigate big feelings starts with a calm, steady response and simple choices they can manage. Image: pexels.com