Young children have a hard time expressing themselves and are easily frustrated when they can’t express what they want. When they get tired, sleepy, or hungry, they misbehave. When not addressed properly and promptly, these acts can easily escalate into behavior problems. If these issues become too overwhelming, stay calm and deal with them the right way.
Here are 5 effective ways to deal with a cranky child:
Spend quality time with your child
Cranky or not, a child needs to feel loved and cared for by their parents. One of the best things you can do to help improve behavior is to spend quality time with your child every day – emotional connection and consistent positive attention will help your child feel safe at home and be less likely to behave wrong.
Implement a sleep routine.
Another reason most children feel cranky is because they are too tired. Most of the time, young children tend to sleep less than is recommended for their age. To make sure they get enough sleep, implement a strict sleep schedule and turn off the lights on the spot. Remember, a well-rested toddler is a well-behaved toddler.
Have clearly defined routines
Children love to follow routines and if they have a clear one to follow, they are less likely to be cranky and misbehave. If you have a set routine for waking up, bathing, eating, going to bed, etc., it won’t be hard to call him in for dinner or convince him that it’s time to sleep because he knows it’s a routine.
Teach them about “throwing”
It is ideal that from an early age children already understand the concept of home and family. Let your child know that for a home run to run smoothly, everyone in the family must pitch in: each member, including them, must have their share of “contribution” (not chores!) to the household.
By understanding this, a child will feel important and responsible, knowing that being in a bad mood is not being responsible.
Teach them to be problem solvers.
Many young children misbehave because they want your attention (usually because they need to figure something out or need help with something) and if you don’t give them what they ask for, they misbehave and have a tantrum.
Teaching them to be more independent, solving problems and finding solutions for themselves, is a good way to improve behavior.
Here are 5 effective ways to deal with a cranky child!