2:33
\"It doesn't have to be that hard,\" Gallant told \"Good Morning America.\"
To help parents, the two experts started \"Big Little Feelings,\" where they share their top tips for toddler problems with their nearly 270,000 followers. Topics include everything from separation anxiety and weaning off the pacifier to potty training.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Toddler Experts (@biglittlefeelings) on Jul 6, 2020 at 9:22am PDT
Read on for some of their tips on how to deal with tantrums.
Gallant said the most common trigger for a meltdown is transitioning from one activity to another, such as putting the iPad away to do something else. So, she suggests first to \"OK the feeling.\"
Gallant said to tell your toddler, \"I hear that you're sad that iPad is all done. It's OK to feel sad.\"
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Toddler Experts (@biglittlefeelings) on May 29, 2020 at 12:45pm PDT
Then, she said to \"set the boundary\" and stay firm that iPad time is over, no matter how hard they push or cry or yell.
The final step is to \"shift to yes,\" and tell them it's time to do something else by saying, \"It's time to go outside. Do you want to play bubbles or do you want to do sandbox?,\" said Gallant. \"You're taking their brains from 'no, no, no,' to 'Oh, this is my choice. I get to go choose and do this next thing.'\"
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Toddler Experts (@biglittlefeelings) on Apr 16, 2020 at 8:05am PDT
For toddlers that get upset about transitioning, Gallant and Margolin suggests using the timer trick even before a tantrum begins.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Toddler Experts (@biglittlefeelings) on Mar 7, 2020 at 7:56am PST
\"You're going to let them push that button to start the timer because it feels like it's their decision,\" said Margolin, who explained that this method keeps toddlers feeling like they're involved and in control. \"When the timer goes off, have your toddler push the off button. This can work like magic instead of them fighting back.\"
To get your kid to stop doing bothersome behaviors to get your attention, like whining, poking and pinching, give them the positive attention they crave.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Toddler Experts (@biglittlefeelings) on Jun 29, 2020 at 10:40am PDT
Margolin and Gallant suggests to carve out 10 focused minutes, let your toddler pick a name for this special time, then give them all your love and attention. If you do this every day, they begin to expect it. By filling up what Margolin and Gallant call your toddlers' \"attention tanks\" in a positive way (as opposed to lashing out), they will no longer feel a need to do those annoying things to get your attention.
To avoid bedtime battles, have your child build or draw a chart of the steps they need to do before bed and let them choose the order.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Toddler Experts (@biglittlefeelings) on Apr 18, 2020 at 9:20am PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Toddler Experts (@biglittlefeelings) on May 4, 2020 at 8:35am PDT
Then, Margolin and Gallant suggest you carry out those things in that order, which makes them feel like they're making their own decisions. After each task is done on their list, put a sticker or checkmark next to it -- this makes it feel like you've made a game out of preparing for bedtime.
Margolin and Gallant's final tip is for toddlers who don't want to take liquid medicine. They understand how difficult that can get. So, to make the process a bit easier, they suggest putting some sprinkles in it. The sprinkles sink to the bottom of the cup, which forces them to drink all of the medicine in order to get to them.
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