39 Reasons why your toddler might be throwing a tantrum!

So your toddler has thrown a tantrum, out of the blue. Out of nowhere. Like an intense tropical storm, the skies have opened. Hot, angry tears are pouring down. Tiny feet stomp and little fists clench as they fill the room with an ear piercing, migraine-making, sanity-testing toddler-tantie-to-end-all-tanties scream!

What to do.

Oh boy, what to do.

Maybe your toddler is tired. Or teething? Maybe she is coming down with a cold. Perhaps it’s time to take her to the doctor. Or perhaps not. Maybe it could be anything at all. Perhaps…

1. Her nappy is wet.
2. She doesn’t like the picture of the bear on the honey jar.
3. Your hair is in a ponytail.
4. The cat looked at her.
5. Your lipstick is red.
6. Your lipstick is pink.
7. The cat doesn’t like its tail being pulled.
8. It’s nap time.
9. She doesn’t want a nap.
10. She just woke up from her nap.
11. You have sandwiches for lunch.
12. She lost her shell she found on the beach (which is identical to the 147 other shells she’s brought back from the beach).
13. You’re in a fancy restaurant/movie theatre/plane/church/ really quiet place.
14. The cat doesn’t like being wrapped in bandages.
15. The dog won’t eat the rock she’s trying to feed him.
16. The cat keeps jumping out of the bin (after she’s put him in it).
17. She wants an icecream. Now.
18. Her icecream fell on the pavement (but arguably, that is horrific!).
19. The swimming pool water is ‘wet’.
20. Your skirt is blue/orange/green/has dots on it.
21. The cat doesn’t like his ears wearing a hat.
22. She doesn’t want to go home.
23. She wants to go home.
24. Your jacket has a zip/buttons/no pockets/pockets/an ugly hood.
25. You’re wearing perfume.
26. It’s too cold.
27. It’s too hot.
28. You won’t let her lick the soap in the bathroom.
29. She doesn’t want the postman to leave.
30. She saw Santa Claus/ The Easter Bunny/Big Bird, and it scared the living daylights out of her.
31. She wants a new bedroom with an apple tree in it.
32. You moved the scissors out of harm’s reach.
33. The cat keeps running away.
34. Her favourite singlet is dirty.
35. The cat doesn’t like his eyes being touched (the cat is seriously over it).
36. It’s time to go to bed.
37. The cat’s gone missing.
38. You tried to help her put on her cardigan.
39. The cat has found a new home.

It’s all part of the child-raising fun! Don’t worry, it doesn’t last forever.

Sage Institute of Child Care – it’s more than a job, it’s a rewarding career.