I want it now. This is not what I wanted. Go away, you don’t get me what I ask for. Do these lines sound familiar to you? Do you often get bombarded with these statements by your children? If the answer is yes, you don’t really have to feel tired if you are encountering fussy and moody children throwing tantrums, as it is quite a common occurrence today.
While this can be alarming for any parent, fret not, we have some great tips for you that can help you deal with your fussy and moody child.
1. Try to find out what is wrong
You never know what your child is going through on the inside and if that is something leading to his moodiness or fussy behavior. So, it is always wise to try and find out what is actually wrong with your child by building a true connection with them. This is how they can actually start to trust you and open up about their feelings. Do not scold them for being fussy, even if that’s something that angers you the most; instead, find the root cause of it.
2. Encourage positive feelings
Your child should know the difference between positive and negative feelings, and you are the one who is going to teach them these things. Positive feelings like happiness, joy, and courage should be encouraged, whereas negative feelings like jealousy should be shunned. So, don’t forget to take out some time from your busy routine and devote it to your child’s emotional intelligence and make them understand how being fussy is a negative trait.
3. Schedule a time for complaints
If your child is developing the habit of whining and complaining all the time, you need to realize that they are upset about something from the inside and need to let it all out. So, you can schedule a proper timeslot for your child to raise all their complaints in that time. This will make them feel that they are heard and somebody understands them, and it would eventually decrease their habit of whining constantly and being fussy about everything.
4. Go for a feelings chart
You, as parents, should ensure that your child gets a comfortable and safe environment where they are not scared of expressing their feelings openly. You can use a feelings chart which could help your child in recognizing that they can express their feelings through it and don’t have to throw a tantrum every single time.
5, Leave them on their own for a while
As it is important to reward your child for their positive and good behavior, it is also important for you to punish them for their bad behavior. Leaving them on their own for a while as a way of punishing them is completely okay, and you should practice this to keep the crankiness of your child in check.
6. Keep a check on your own mood
The environment created around the house because of your mood and behavior affects your child in different ways. So, even when you are stressed or upset about something, be careful about expressing those feelings around your child, as your child may not understand the reason for those feelings and can learn negative things from them, thereby becoming fussy and tough to deal with.
7. Ensure your child gets proper nutrition
You just can’t ignore the connection between a properly nutritious diet and the mood swings of a person, especially a child. So, if you are finding your child to be currently throwing too many tantrums or is being cranky and fussy a lot, you need to check the diet your child is consuming lately. You should ensure that your child gets their vitamins, minerals, and all the essential nutrients regularly.
8. Stay calm
Dealing with a moody, fussy, and cranky child can be quite exhausting for you as a parent but what you need to keep in mind is that no matter what happens, you don’t have to lose your calm and always take their feelings into acknowledgment so that they don’t choose the option of stocking their feelings inside them.