What do you do when your 2 y/o has a....

[mom2grace]

I used to work for the program that your son has in my state.

Ask your therapist for some picture symbol cards of every day items in your son's life, take actual photos and use those too.


Let him point to or bring you what he wants. Eventually the verbal words will come, I promise! You might also do some simple signs.

These can also work well if he has trouble with the routine of the day too...have one for each event of the day and laminate then make a board with velcro...such as...wake up, change clothes, breakfast, play time, favorite show, clean up, lunch, nap, go outside, you get the picture.

Also good if something new or different is coming, you can help to prepare him.

Then you can talk to him about what is next and he can begin to anticipate.

I think in your case, ignoring probably is not going to work since it's a language issue.

It's sooo important to determine the goal of the tantrum....attention, frustration over not being understood, overstimulated, etc.

Think about how you respond to stress......cry, yell, cuss, exercise, write, smoke, bite your nails, talk to your friends, etc. Now imagine that you are not allowed to do any of those things, how would you feel? Worse? When a child is not allowed to get rid of the frustration through a physical release, it usually gets worse.

Remember that EMOTIONS are not controllable (can you control how you feel?) but the BEHAVIORS we use to release the emotion can be modified. That's what the terrible 2's ( & 3's, & 13's, & 14's..LOL) are for!

When it is for attention, etc., letting them release the emotion in a safe way is the best bet. When it's frustration over language delays, a different approach is necessary. But, the emotion may be the same.

BTW, I have a 2 year old and it's easy to say this, much harder to follow-through!!!!!! Sometimes I want to have a tantrum too!



Good luck and God Bless!

Susan

 

[shortbun]

make sure he's safe. Talk to him about it some other time
when all is happy. Hold him then, quietly and clearly ask him
if when he does it does he wants you there or out of the room.
Does he want to be touched?
Does he want help stopping? Does it feel good or bad when
he's doing it? Good or bad when he's done? Ask a series of
yes or no, one word answers questions so you can get information and he knows you are interested in helping him. Honor his information. Tell him in clear, easy to understand words
how it makes you feel when it happens. Don't tell him you are scared, even if you are. Ask him if he is. Tell him you are worried, want him to be safe, tell him kicking and hitting are not a choice.
Good luck. Tell him you love him

 

[Mishetta]

mom2grace ~ we do the picture symbol thing at home, as well as trying to "sign" with each other. Thank you for those suggestions, they are great for language delayed toddlers.

browneyes ~ I did try to make him laugh & tickle him, sing to him (that would make anyone laugh) & although he did laugh for like 10 seconds, he went right back into his frantic waving of arms, legs, & screaming mode!

DS's tantrum was scary because I couldn't think of anything that would have set him off that way. When he & I are alone during the day (DH at work, DS8 at school), we have a great day together. He's easy going, he laughs, sings, etc...it's usually once his older brother comes home & DS8 terrorizes the little guy. Also, when DH or I are helping DS8 with homework & little guy feels neglected & wants attention, he'll get into those moods, but DS2's tantrum was clear out of the blue & it was worst than any he's had before!

I'm hoping we won't have a repeat "performance" today!!