6 Reasons Your Toddler Throwing Tantrums Is Actually A Good Thing

Jan 23, 2019

When it comes to parenting, the tantrums and meltdowns can feel like one of the most frustrating aspects of the job. While spending time with a happy toddler can be pure joy, making them mad often turns them into a miniature monster! Amazingly enough, having fits and crying can actually help your child develop. Before you try to nip a tantrum in the bud, consider these six ways that acting out may be helping your child psychologically.

We all have disappointments in life and, if we are psychologically prepared, we know how to deal with these using coping mechanisms. While adults can’t fall to the ground and throw a tantrum, acting out allows children the ability to learn how to deal with disappointments aside from stuffing them all inside.

While saying “no” to an extra cookie may not seem like a big deal to you, in the mind of a child it’s comparable to a huge adult disappointment such as being turned down for a job. Continue to set boundaries and act firmly, but allow your toddler the chance to learn their own ways to deal with disappointments.

Have you ever known a child who was so distant from their parents that they couldn’t even cry in front of them? Sadly, this does happen sometimes. If your child feels open and loved enough by you to reveal their heartbreak through tears, this can actually mean that you have a healthy relationship! Remember that children can’t always control themselves when something upsets them; rather than getting on them for acting up, teach them healthy ways to deal with their feelings while continuing to maintain their trust.

It can be hard to imagine that a toddler has any stress – after all, their lives look pretty easy! However, little children can easily be weighed down by stress, anxiety, and disappointment. Their tiny worries are huge in their own minds. If your child begins crying, don’t say anything to bottle it up since tears also help to remove stress hormones and anxiety. Crying may also be the ticket to a good night’s rest since tears and tantrums often help to regulate emotions and lead to better sleeping patterns.

Adults live in constant worry of what others will think, often forcing themselves to hide their true emotions. Rather than forcing the same stiff sentence on toddlers, parents should allow them to enjoy their chanced to express emotions without feeling judged.

To a child, the world is an exciting and scary place with endless possibilities. Sometimes the world can seem so huge that toddlers feel overwhelmed by their emotions. Rather than remain stuck in their fears, toddlers should be allowed to cry to release their negative emotions and then move forward with the learning process.

We learn not only from doing the right thing but also by making mistakes. Tantrums give children the opportunity to release pent-up emotions but also recognize that their acting out does little to actually solve the problem. As a parent, you can step up to show your child that words are the best way to work through what they are feeling, thus showing them that tantrums are not all that beneficial in the long-run.

Having a screaming, crying, frustrated toddler is no parent’s dream; however, we’ve all been there at one point or another. Rather than trying to calm the child down with promises of candy or the threat of time out, it’s important to consider the ways that crying can actually be beneficial. While you may still be embarrassed by their actions, at least you can see that the tantrum will be healthy in the long run!

What is the biggest temper tantrum that your child has ever thrown? Let us know in the comment section below.