Naturally, if a child often looks excessive in showing the emotions that are being felt. The main purpose is of course to attract your attention while at the same time expressing his desire for something. Well, differentiate this condition from the condition of the tantrum child, which is marked when the child expresses his emotions by raging violently, crying loudly, and throwing things around him. Tantrum in children can occur at any time, not least at mealtime. So, is there a way to deal with tantrums when eating this?
How do you stop a child who is tantrum while eating?
Actually tantrum is a normal part of the child's development process, this can even help children to vent their feelings. But remember, not all tantrums can be considered good. There are times when you are a parent, you are required to be more assertive in dealing with the attitude of this one child.
Tantrum can appear in any condition, especially when a child is tired, feeling uncomfortable or hungry. As a result, children continue to whine and rampage throughout their meal times. If this is the case, help the child to overcome the tantrum when eating in the following ways:
Try to understand what he wants
Tantrum generally occurs in the first few years of life, more precisely when children's language skills have begun to develop. At this time, usually children are not really able to say what they feel, want, or need. So tantrum is like a "solution" to show his emotions.
Especially at mealtime, where children tend to want more control. This usually happens because he has often seen you and other people feed him.
Your job here, try to better understand what your child really wants; Do you want to try eating alone, holding the food, or doing something else while eating? That way, maybe tantrum when eating children will be reduced.
Let the child explore the food
Anger of children who come at meal times is sometimes caused by curiosity about the food he is eating. It doesn't matter if you are accustomed to feeding it because the texture of food that does not allow your child to eat alone, such as porridge or other pulverized foods with a liquid texture.
However, there is no harm in trying to give solid food the size of a child's hand so that it can be held alone (finger foods).
Besides being able to please children, finger foods also also act as a first step to develop motor skills. Children also begin to recognize various forms of daily food.
Turn your attention to other things
Even though it seems that you are in a situation that is quite difficult if the child is tantrum when eating, but as much as possible try to turn his attention to other things that are more interesting.
Either by giving him a favorite toy, inviting him to talk about a fun experience he had done, or retelling about a child's favorite tales. In essence, do a variety of interesting things that can at least reduce or even stop the tantrum properties when eating.
Remind children about the rules when eating
The child's tantrum habits that continue to be allowed can always make him rely on tantrums, anger, and crying as a trick to get his wishes. As a parent, try to always be assertive in order to educate children to understand the various rules in everyday life.
From an early age, start introducing children to various good and bad things that they may and may not do. This includes eating, such as "eating it must sit"; "Chew food until smooth, do not use it"; and so forth.
It is not easy to educate children to obey the rules, but this is all for the good when he grows up. So, if later the child takes action outside the rules taught, do not hesitate to reprimand him in a subtle way while reminding him of what he should do.