Your child is grumpy and moody, and on the brink of a full blown tantrum. Is there a way to head it off at the pass? The answer is complicated, but there are a few things you can try to laugh the grumps away. Cheering up a grumpy toddler can be easy if your toddler tends to be happy most of the time. But if she is stubborn, persistent, and “spirited”, the task of busting a tantrum before it starts may be difficult. Most parents become adept at seeing a tantrum coming, but many may not know what to do in order to curb it.
How to Cheer Up a Grumpy Toddler
In previous postings, I have given up a few ideas for how to cheer up a grumpy toddler. But, for the more difficult moods, you might need to pull out all the stops! Try any of the following techniques for changing a toddler’s mood from grumpy to happy, before the tantrum.
6 Great Tantrum Busters
Here are a few ideas for changing a grumpy toddler’s mind when he is heading for the big tantrum:
1. Change of scenery - Get out of the house. No matter what the weather is like, whisk them outside and enjoy the fresh air, go for a walk, pull him in a wagon or push him in a stroller, roll down a hill, tumble on the grass, ride your bike with your toddler in a bicycle seat, or go for a hunt in the woods or neighborhood.
2. Healthy snacking - Is your grumpy toddler hungry? Make something fun for him to eat, like a fruit salad, peanut butter and banana sandwich, cheese cubes, ants on a log.
3. Be goofy - It’s okay for you to act goofy once in a while and children will love it. Make a silly face, put your hand in some whipped cream and act all grossed out, accidentally trip on the rug and make it funny, put a stuffed animal on your shoulder or head and pretend you don’t know it is there.
4. Make the animals talk - Put on a quick show for your child with their favorite stuffed animals. Give them really silly voices and ask your child what is wrong using the animals.
5. Shadow puppets - Turn off the lights and make shadow puppets on the wall with a flashlight and your fingers. Play some kids’ music in the background and have your shadow puppets dance and sing.
6. Bounce the toddler - Take your toddler and bounce her up and down gently on your lap, on the bed, on a trampoline, or on the couch, and watch her start to laugh.
Tags: Tantrum busters
