I recently spent a week at day camp with 250 kids.
Confrontation? Paul Clark says giving in to young children when they throw a tantrum will simply mean more tantrums. PICTURE: Jelleke Vanooteghem/Unsplash
It soon becomes obvious which kids are used to getting their own way.
When a child is told ‘no’, some throw a ‘wobbly’ or have a big sook, but at camp the leaders don’t give in. Some of the kids aren’t used to that at all.
Obviously, normally, mum or dad give in to this sort of emotional blackmail.
Parents, I know it’s hard, but when toddler throws a tantrum, especially in the supermarket, don’t give in – despite the glares of the ignorant.
If you give in, toddler learns to control you, and it only gets worse! ‘Giving in’ because you don’t have the energy just destines you for more.
We forgive toddlers for tantrums, but at 10, 20 or 30, it’s very unbecoming. I know, I was the king of wobblies!
Paul Clark’s musings can be heard on radio across Australia and at atthetop.org.au.
