If you are the parent of a toddler or preschooler, chances are you know a thing or two about tantrums. While those epic meltdowns can certainly be part of "normal" toddler behavior, they are still maddening, stressful, and exhausting--for everyone involved. What can you do to keep your cool and help your child calm down? Rebecca Schrag Hershberg, child psychologist and mother of two, has a unique understanding of both the science behind tantrums and what works in the heat of the moment to nip blowups in the bud. With her customizable plan, you'll learn: *Why your toddler's developing brain is hardwired for "big emotions." *What you may be doing (unintentionally) to encourage outbursts. *Ways to use structure and routines to help your child feel secure. *How to reduce tantrums at tough times of day, from wake-up to bedtime. *Strategies for managing tantrums under difficult circumstances, from travel to moving to divorce. *Ways to deepen your parent-child connection--starting right now. A Greater Good Favorite Parenting Book of 2018
Introduction 1. "You Haven't Seen a Tantrum Until You've Seen My Toddler's Tantrums": When Should You Worry? 2. "Really? This Is What You're Going to Melt Down Over?": Understanding Causes and Triggers 3. "What's Going On in That Curious Little Mind?": Being Realistic about the Limitations of the Developing Brain 4. "Why Can't I Handle This?": Parental Expectations, Baggage, and Emotions 5. "Maybe If Things Were Just a Bit Less Crazy on the Home Front . . .": Family Dynamics and the Foundation for Reducing Tantrums 6. "Of Course You'll Always Be My Sweet Little Baby (Except Possibly When You Pee in the Bath on Purpose)": Preserving the Authentic Connection with Your Toddler 7. "Who's Making the Rules Here?": Using Reasonable Structures and Routines to Help Your Toddler Feel Secure 8. "OK. But. Now. What. Exactly. Should. I. Do?": Practical Strategies for Preventing and Deescalating Tantrums 9. "Am I Making Things Worse?": Concrete Ways to Avoid Knee-Jerk Responses and Other "Anti-Tools" That Just Don't Work 10. "Please Just Go to Sleep, Already!": How to Reduce Tantrums at Tough Times of Day, from Wake-Up to Bedtime 11. "Another Aborted Trip to the Supermarket (a.k.a. How Many Times Can We Order Pizza for Dinner?)": How to Reduce Tantrums in Tricky Settings, from the Big-Box Store to the Playground and Beyond 12. "A Tantrum Is Quite Possibly the Last Thing I Need Right Now": How to Reduce Tantrums under Difficult Circumstances, from Travel to Moving to Divorce Resources
