{"id":5503,"date":"2012-10-30T10:24:44","date_gmt":"2012-10-30T08:24:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/zaparents-blog\/?p=5503"},"modified":"2022-06-21T09:48:32","modified_gmt":"2022-06-21T07:48:32","slug":"handling-the-terrible-twos-in-a-fun-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/blog\/baby-to-teens\/toddler-tantrums\/handling-the-terrible-twos-in-a-fun-way\/","title":{"rendered":"Handling the terrible twos in a fun way"},"content":{"rendered":"

You know that moment when the whine starts escalating and you just know that a full-blown tantrum is about to assault you with all its loudness and irrationality? I\u2019m sure that that is not a moment that you usually look forward to \u2013 until now.\u00a0 That is the exact moment that you can make lasting change by stepping out of your own comfort zone.<\/span><\/p>\n

My favourite tool for this is called the Pattern Interrupt. Basically it\u2019s creating an extreme interruption to an unwanted behavior that then creates a new neural pathway that will interfere with that behavior in future. It works like this\u2026<\/p>\n

At that very moment when the whine starts to escalate, you throw yourself down on the floor, kicking and screaming and flailing around (just like they were about to do). The trick to this working is twofold:<\/p>\n

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  1. You must do it BEFORE they get fully into their tantrum. You want to interfere with the neural connection right at the beginning of the behavior so that next time they are about to do it the new pathway kicks in immediately.<\/li>\n
  2. Your actions must be extreme and they must be congruent \u2013 in other words your child must actually believe that you are freaking out \u2013 half-hearted acting attempts are not going to do the trick. You need to give them a fright.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    I used this myself with my youngest when she went through the terrible two\u2019s and I know from experience that it works. The next time that whine starts escalating you look over and see that look of oncoming tantrum turn to confusion and then completely disappear. I love it!\u00a0 It\u2019s also lots of fun and gives you an opportunity to vent some of your own frustration in the situation<\/p>\n

    The more flexible you are in your behavior, the more in control you are of whatever situation comes up. If you\u2019re feeling too stressed or overwhelmed to be able to do what I have suggested, give us a shout \u2013 parenting is supposed to be challenging and to help you to grow, but it is also supposed to be fun.<\/p>\n

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