As much as we love the toddlers in our life, some moments are less adorable than others. Especially the times when they go from zero to sixty, throwing themselves on the floor over something like their chicken tenders touching their pasta.
But instead of compounding your frustration — on top of your toddler bouncing off the walls — take a few moments to breathe deeply and weigh your options about how to calm your toddler. To kick things off in the right direction, let's take a look at why toddlers can be hyper and different ways to calm your little one down before everyone needs a time out.
Do you have a hyper toddler?
What calms kids? Tips for parents
You have had it up to here with chasing your kiddos around like the adorable yet high-energy maniacs they are. So instead of losing your patience with your toddler not listening to your pleas to settle down, try out some of these strategies instead.
Routines
Whether it’s getting ready for school, lunchtime, or bedtime, making a routine part of the activity they’re preparing for will set the expectation for what comes next. For example, if they know part of the routine to get ready for school involves putting their toys away and getting their backpack ready to go, it allows them to focus on the task at hand and help everyone get out the door with less chaos.
Music and mindfulness
There is nothing like the right kind of music to set the mood. In this case, putting on calming music that supports your child's relaxation, or even something familiar that they enjoy, can help calm them down. It can also be a filler or white noise in the background during mindfulness and breathing activities that focus on redirecting their energy.
Talking about how they’re feeling
Sometimes the wild, intense energy is because your little one is frustrated and is unable to communicate their feelings. When you’re talking to your kids keep a few things in mind. "Rule number one is that the adult needs to be calm. Kneel down to the child's level and lower your voice. Speak slower and lower," said Lea Keating, founder of Sensory Street Kids.
Even though you might be frustrated about how they are expressing themselves, you can communicate with them clearly and calmly. At the end of the day, it will help everyone better understand what’s going on.
