Handling Temper Tantrums

During our Parent/Teacher conferences, many of you were asking about how we deal with temper tantrums here in our classroom, so I would like to expand more on this subject. Toddlers and tantrums tend to go hand in hand, and it is important to remember that this phase will pass. A temper tantrum is usually a result of the child not being able to effectively express himself verbally, which leads to intense frustration.

I have had young Montessori students over the years who battle with temper tantrums; it can be a helpless feeling for the Montessori teacher at times, especially when you feel like you have tried everything! I have found that the more consistent you can be, the quicker the phase passes. It is vital to figure out what works best for the individual child. Here are a few examples to give you some further insight into different situations and how they may be handled.

DEALING WITH A TANTRUM THE MONTESSORI WAY

        As is often suggested for positive discipline, positively offering limited choices can be effective. One little girl falls apart if someone looks at her the wrong way but she settles right down if she can regroup in the reading corner with a book. A little boy falls to the floor every time he is reminded to push his chair in or roll up his mat, however, the quieter I say it, the better he responds. If I speak to him in almost a whisper, he is more than happy to go back and tuck his chair or roll his mat - I think he feels less threatened when the request is made in a very subtle, soft manner.

It is important not to "buy into" the tantrum. I had a little boy in our room that threw a fit constantly, no matter how I phrased my request; he screamed or threw himself on the floor to get his way. For this young student, it worked to look him in the eye, acknowledge that he is feeling frustrated, and give him the choice of talking to me or taking a few minutes to calm down by sitting on a chair. He almost always chose to sit and when he felt ready, we then talked about the situation and I helped him deal with whatever was upsetting him. Those few minutes to sit and calm down were huge for him!

         Temper tantrums are usually dramatic, intense, and full of emotion. With a calm demeanor, patience and persistence, you can almost always help diffuse the drama of a temper tantrum and change the situation to a calm, quiet discussion. It is important to stay calm, keep control and maintain peace.

          A few strategies that I implement in our Montessori Toddler classroom are as follows. Please remember, it is vital to choose a strategy that is in tune with the child's personality and needs:

-          Maintain a consistent routine ... the more predictable your routine is, the easier it is for a child who is prone to temper tantrums.

-          Provide a warning before transitions. I had a student who sometimes struggles with transition times, so I always gave her a quiet warning several minutes ahead of time and it worked beautifully. For example, "After you are done with this material, we are going to try to use the restroom" If I ever forgot the warning, she would usually fall apart!

-          Observe and be in tune with escalating frustration levels. Intervene before the tantrum occurs. For example, if a child is struggling with pulling his pants up because they might be too tight, I approach the child and encourage him to keep trying, and if he really can't do it, I offer my help and we both finish the task together.

-          Offer choices so that the child feels he has some control over the situation. Keep the choices limited to accomplishing the task at hand. For example, "Would you like to put your coat on yourself or would you like some help?" or, "It is time to tidy up. Would you like to roll up the floor mat or would you like to put the puzzle on the shelf?"

-          Distractions and re-directions work wonders with little ones.

-          Try to avoid the word, 'no' as it adds to a toddler's frustration. Instead, use phrases like 'later' or 'after lunch'.

-          Be aware of stressors that may require extra empathy (toilet training, starting daycare, etc). A little empathy goes a long way when a child is feeling overwhelmed and frustrated.

-          Say something positive before making your request of the child, and make the request almost a challenge: "Patricia, you worked so hard today with the puzzle, but I see that your mat is still on the floor. Let's see how tight you can roll it" or "Ali, you remembered to put your pouring work away, but I see your chair needs to be pushed in. Let's see how quietly you can do it."

-          Respect and acknowledge the child's feelings, "I know you are feeling angry........., That must have made you feel really sad when......." When children receive verbal assurance that their feelings are important and acknowledged, they gradually learn to put those feelings into words instead of acting out.

          Most children do grow out of the need for tantrums when they have more language skills and understanding. But the way you deal with them in the toddler years is important. If they are handled harshly, or if you constantly ignore a child's feelings or their need for comfort, they may become worse and carry on for a much longer time. Hope these tips work for you!

-Ms. Cristina, Beetle Teacher (references montessoritraining.blogspot.com)