The magic words to stop a tantrum before it really even begins

moroccojade

If I see some unnecessary howlin' coming on, I say this:

"Ok, sweetheart, if you need to have a tantrum, that's ok.  But you should lie down on the floor and kick so you can have it properly."

She stops *immediately*.

Am I a horrible mother?  Am I scarring her for life?  Or are you going to try it and report back to me as to whether it's effective for you or not?

abpdjs

reverse psych, lol, i love it.  i do it with Carson all the time and it does work.

HawaiiBrideGrm

Mother of the Year award goes to you!!! I love it!

Mrs Manners

Actually, that's almost EXACTLY what the book Love & Logic Magic recommends doing. I love that book. Ds isn't old enough yet to understand, but I'm absolutely going to try it as soon as he is.

Josie22

That is an amazing idea, you are now one of my heroes..

roseroseroseroserose

Mrs Manners:

Actually, that's almost EXACTLY what the book Love & Logic Magic recommends doing. I love that book. Ds isn't old enough yet to understand, but I'm absolutely going to try it as soon as he is.

This! 

DD is old enough to laugh when I say "scream louder!  scream louder!"

PaigeC1981

I will have to give this line a try!!!!!  LOL, thanks girl.

mrshutch

lol, I say something similar- I tell DD she can have her tantrum but she needs to go in her room on her rug. It doesn't stop the tantrum- she still howls for about 5 minutes- but at least she goes in her room and calms herself down

Jelliebean1982

Yup, I use Love and Logic too and it really does work.  Because most temper tantrums are about power struggles you've basically ordered your child to have a tantrum, and because she needs to make her own choices, she's just refused to do it.  LMAO!

Eviebee

This sounds like a great idea!  I should try it, although most of the time DD goes from 0-screaming banshee in less than a second and with out warning.  I will try it with the other kids in my daycare too. 

neverblushed

Not the exact same words, but I gave my kids the same basic message when they were having a tantrum, and it really cut down on that behavior!

I would hardly say my kids are scarred for life from this! 

Emmasmom30

LMAO I think it's perfect!

JulieandBen

abpdjs:

reverse psych, lol, i love it.  i do it with Carson all the time and it does work.

ditto

Except for crying. Jack gets really angry if we mock him. I don't blame him. We rarely do it. 

moroccojade

JulieandBen:

abpdjs:

reverse psych, lol, i love it.  i do it with Carson all the time and it does work.

ditto

Except for crying. Jack gets really angry if we mock him. I don't blame him. We rarely do it. 

ITA.   If she's genuinely hurt or sad, I definitely wouldn't use this method.  It would break my heart and it would be just plain cruel.    

If she's just being a bit of a turd and not truly upset about anything significant, I use it and it snaps her out of The Mood.  Brings her back to earth and she realizes she's being silly.  It hasn't made her angry.  But I use it sparingly just in the right situations.