Need advice!!

[madyryn]

My 3 year old son throws terrible fits whenever he gets in trouble, doesnt get his way, or what he wants. When he throws these fits he usually screams (loud!) and then he will hit his head on the floor. I just dont know what to do. Its hard to try to catch him before he does it, most of the time I am to far away. Does anyone have any ideas!!

[ra11en]

Let him throw his tantrums without any feedback from you. No eye contact, no reprimanding, nothing at all. My daughter started this, and on tile floors it was hard for me to just let her conk her head against it without reacting. I talked to a few other moms, and our pediatrician, and they all said the same thing - "Ignore her". It was so hard to do, but she did come out of it pretty quickly once I stopped reacting. Even telling them "No" or looking at them can be enough reaction to keep the tantrum going.

I had to get up and leave the room most of the time, and she got a few goose eggs on her forehead. Once she stopped getting any payoff - my attention - she would get up off the floor, try to find me in the house, and start throwing it again once she found me. And she would start to look at the floor before she hit her head on it which told me she was guaging how hard to hit it which then told me she was just fine. Too smart!

It's hard, but it worked best for us. She still throws her little fits, and if it isn't too bad I will try to talk to her to let her know she is being heard by me. I try to reinforce that I know what she wants, but that she can't have that or do that right now. Sometimes, that is all she needs. To know that she is heard. Sometimes, she still needs to scream and rant. :)

[jmach107]

I have a four year old son who has been known to throw a few tantrums in his day as well. For the most part I usually know when he is building up to an all out loose his mind mess and I will, before it gets that far make sure he is some where safe i.e) bring him to the rug in living room, his bed surrounded by pillows. Then let him scream to his hearts content. Don't let your Mom guilt trick you into giving him his way or this problem will go on longer than you want.

[madyryn]

those are good ideas, thank you! im willing to try just about anything!!

[madyryn]

thank you for your idea! im willing to try just about anything right now!