Let Them Have a Tantrum

You’re at the store when you hear it - a screaming child. They’re mad and frustrated that they can’t have whatever candy they just saw on the last aisle. They’re screaming about it and the whole store can hear it. You move along and think to yourself that you’re glad it’s not you today. You left your child at home while you came to the store alone, but you understand how that parent is probably feeling.

Kids throw tantrums over the silliest things it seems like. They get something in their head, and they simply won’t let go of it. Kids can scream forever about little things. By the end, there’s a good chance that they will have forgotten why they’re screaming - they’ve simply got themselves into such a worked up state that they can’t figure out how to calm themselves down and they’re just continuing on.

Often these tantrums occur at home. While it’s not fun as a parent to hear a child screaming and laying on the floor because they want to watch TV some more, or to see your phone, it’s also really only affecting your family. You may send them to their room to complete their tantrum, but letting them scream through those frustrations isn’t hurting anyone. Feel free to let them scream forever about it.

You can try to reason with them about whatever it is that they’re screaming about, but at some point you’ll just have to let them continue. If you’re able to stave off a tantrum, the best time to get it under control is usually right from the beginning. Once a child is so wrapped up in whatever they’re after, you’re likely not going to be able to calm them enough. Distract your child with something else or help them work through it.

If you’re not at home when a tantrum happens, then you should feel free to let them have that tantrum where they’re at as long as it’s safe for them to do so, and not severely impacting others. If your child isn’t in the middle of the road, they’re not swinging around in an area with a bunch of other people, and you’re in an open space, then let them scream it out for as long as they’d like to continue on.

If you’re indoors at a store or airport, try to get them outdoors if you can - it’s not really great for everyone in the store having to deal with it if they don’t have to. If you can’t get outdoors, try to move to another room or area that is closed off from the rest of the place that you’re located. Ideally your child will calm down, but if not then moving to an area that will affect others in the least way possible is the next best option.

As a parent, it’s certainly embarrassing to have to deal with a child who is screaming like a wild child. However, anyone else who has ever been a parent will understand what you’re going through. Trying to hide your child away or carry them around while they’re screaming also isn’t ideal. Letting them scream it out is totally acceptable, even if you are embarrassed. It will be over in a few minutes (hopefully).

Tantrums happen. Let your child scream it out, and let them get over it. As long as your child is safe and not hurting others, then their tantrum will be completed soon enough.