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Is that kid Cranky or just overwhelmed?

The usually happy kid sometimes throw tantrums and we, parents are like..what? They have never behaved like this before at home. Are they cranky or are they overwhelmed? Kids come with surprise element and parents can never anticipate what the next minute can bring.

The surprise package unwraps itself when it is least expected.

W35My happy go lucky 4-year-old kid who is mostly very adorable and understanding ( like a grown-up) has thrown tantrums too and I am quite used to such situations. The toddler tantrums can be simply enjoyed and instead of bribing them, threatening them or later punishing them, the root cause must be found out.

Positive parenting is best applied during this period when a toddler or kid is hitting or crying or swirling on the floor.

My mantra is simple – let them be kids whereas the parent/guardian have to be ready to behave like a “grown-up”.

They look up to their parents mostly mothers as they are psychologically attached to them. Supporting kid’s such requirements will help them overcome such situations and will help them grow stronger as an individual in a long time.

Kids tantrums are a call for help

Kids tantrums are a call for help

Being kids can be hard mostly because:

  1. Kids might not be able to control their emotions at all times.
  2. Kids do not have an idea to express complex feelings and this can cause such mental breakouts we call tantrums.
  3. Kids want to do things their own way.
  4. Kids feel overwhelmed and this is as normal as hunger or thirst.

 

Controlling an overwhelmed child is a challenge in itself. Imagine being on a stage when you have stage fright. Sometimes even the adults cannot contain their emotions in out-of-control situations. The little ones are absolutely allowed to throw tantrums.

 

Happy Kid sometimes turn very cranky

Happy Kid sometimes turn very cranky

It is not a tantrum. It is a sign, a call for help that their tiny minds need to be understood.

When I read an article about why kids are 800 times worse when their mothers are around, it made a total sense to me that they look up to the mothers to feel safe.

Parenting skills should be like that the kids can open to the parents about their fears, emotions and safety issues. It is a stage that develops their mental health and personality.

This should not be treated as merely something to fret about. This is also not something to be embarrassed about. This is also not something to punish the child.

This is childhood, their tantrums are temporary. After a while, these tantrums will become memories so taking it positively.

Maybe you once behaved like this as well!

Let me hear your thoughts on this.

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Leave a Reply

  1. Absolutely i agree, let kids be kids and let them enjoy their share of freedom and life..

  2. I can feel you mommy, but at times it really gets tough to hold back the emotions and be the adult. Especially when they test your patience at the worst situations. However, practice is the key.

  3. You have so well said that kids shows new emotions daily …a new learning daily ..I feel they don’t get cranky but they goes too excited to control and reacts different ways!!

  4. Children can be extremely challenging but we should know how to cajole them and bring them around to follow the patterns and rules of the house

  5. Yesterday I was having a talk with my friend on why kids have meltdowns and your post is here :). I am glad we were talking around the similar understanding. Kids are yet to understand and interpret each situation unlike us, they cry as they can’t contain the feelings. Lovely post dear. So, agree with you here.

  6. Totally agree with you. Kids are kids but adults should behave like a grownup but we often misunderstand the concept. Nice article, I love it.

  7. I read that article too about kids being worse with their mothers a long time ago and honestly, a lot of Karma’s tantrums made sense to me suddenly. That was when he was most comfortable just letting it out and it happens… kids are kids and like you said, they don’t understand their own emotions or can’t always handle them well and we need to understand that fact!

  8. Lots of things make kids cranky, like extra company or even a change in food habits. Parents need to take it in a positive light and see beyond the tantrums. May be they need attention or help.

  9. Yes we often don’t take into account that our children can be overwhelmed by their surroundings. Good post!

  10. I totally agree with your views, let kids be kids, they throw tantrums because they don’t know any other way to release their frustration and we should not let them suppress their emotions. Great post!

  11. I often have to remind myself that my little girl is probably not being cranky just because but instead that she is over whelmed by her surrounding and just trying to process her emotions.

  12. I wish I had understood that when my oldest was a toddler. By the time my youngest was a toddler I understood and tried to figure out what he needed instead of just getting mad.

  13. We are going through the same situation nowadays and I agree it is us who have to behave as an adult to understand what out little one is going through. I absolutely loved this post.

  14. I can immediately tell if my toddler’s needs haven’t been met if he starts throwing tantrums. Usually I can ask him if he needs a nap or a drink or a snack and that’ll solve it. At least his frustration tantrums are usually pretty short!