Okay, so I have talked to the doctors and Early On a little about the tantrums we were recommended to get help for... They always want to know how we respond. When it is going home, bedtime, or a bath she doesn't want to take, we just push through. And of course, the number one piece of tantrum advice is not to give in, so in these cases, we aren't. However, sometimes the situation is more like, M, do you want to play with your cars? And then I get "NOOOOOO" wah, wah. So then I usually say, Okay, how about a book? Or something. So is that giving in to a tantrum? It seems like I would be a power crazy lunatic if I demanded we play with cars... And if I was actually going to force her to play cars, maybe screaming no would be a little more appropriate. I'd like her to learn that a suggestion is just a suggestion and the stakes are low so her response is too over-the-top, but what if instead I am showing her that an over-the-top response gets her what she wants?
Re: tantrums parenting
I would also recommend the Happiest Toddler on the Block book. As pp suggests, it helps if you can verbalize what she is upset about. In your example I would try "I understand you don't want to play cars. You really really don't want to play cars. You are mad mad mad about that!" It seems kinda crazy when you're doing it, but so far I have found that it does help a little bit...
"You reach deeper until you can find the strength. That's all life is, one big fight after another."
Angel babies: 9/19/07, 10/08/09, 1/05/11
"You reach deeper until you can find the strength. That's all life is, one big fight after another."
Angel babies: 9/19/07, 10/08/09, 1/05/11