: Image by Auntie P via Flickr

I’m sure you must be wondering about ths strange title. Let me unravel the meaning behind it.

Roy has been fascinated with fishes and buses for a very long time.

When he was about 8mths old he would excitedly shout “There!!” and point to each and every bus that we drive pass when we are traveling in the car.

I used the opportunity each time to teach him that the object he was pointing to was a bus and to say bus instead. I also incorporated the descriptive words- big, small and colours while talking about the buses with him.

Now at 2yrs 2mths he can tell me “Big white bus over there”, ” The bus is turning, stopping etc”.

Roy’s interest in fishes came about after we brought him to the underwater world in Sentosa. He loved looking at the fishes and sea creatures there. If ever we dine at a Chinese restaurant he will try to get away from our table and run over to the fish tanks that they kept their live seafood in.

Now when he gets the chance he will plunk his drawing board and pencil in my hand and insist that I draw him some fishes and buses next to his drawings.

What are your children’s 1st love?

February 8, 2009

Conquering an Angry Child- Temper Tantrums

Dominique Parenting Views Temper tantrums

This is the 2nd post in the series in Conquering an Angry Child. Being the month of February(Love) I will be focusing on how we can use Love to shape the character and behaviour of our children

Is this how your child behaves when he doesn’t get what he wants? In an flash your happy -go-lucky toddler turns into a little devil screaming and crying with arms up and throwing himself backwards and onto the ground.

This happens quite often with Roy. He displays his disatisfaction and anger very easily. I guess that it will take him sometime to learn how to express himself differently.

Getting worked up and insisting there and then that he complies with you will never work. I have tried been stern at him and explaining that I disapproved of his action . It didn’t work!!

When your kid is throwing a tantrum the only thing in his mind would be to get his end result- his wish/demand realised. Anything and everything you do wouldn’t deter him.

If you try to restrain him and prevent himself from hurting himself when he send himself free falling like a bungee jumper you are putting yourself in the losing end of a physical battle.

It is amazing how forceful these little tykes can be when they start to act up. Even though Roy currently weigh 13kg it does take my full strength to properly restrain him to prevent him from unintentionally hurting himself.

There were many occassions whereby I got physically injured when dealing with Roy’s brute force. As he grows older and heavier putting him under such restrains is not a option. I do not want to risk suffering from a sprained wrist or bad back due to dealing with him.

Now when he acts up and wants to force himself onto the floor I would simple pick him up and genttly lower him to the ground. Roy would be kicking and scream while lying or rolling around while I would calming stand and watch him with wet wipes on hand to wipe him down after his ” expression session”.

I find that it works better as the most it only take 5 minutes as he knows that such outburst would lead nowhere and both of us are not physically hurt during each episode.

How do you deal with your kids outbursts?

Dominique's Desk

Of Fishes and Buses

Conquering an Angry Child- Temper Tantrums