Toddler's tantrums before school - Ways to deal with it

Does your child dislike school?

You must come to the conclusion that your child throws tantrums because he/she doesn’t like school. So does every parent think of the same. But, your child doesn’t actually dislike school, he/she is unhappy with the fact that school is away from home, a place where they find comfort. So, just like every other individual on this planet, your child too doesn’t like going away from his/her comfort zone. After spending much time in the proximity of parents, it can be a daunting task for a child to leave his/her home to find themselves amidst new people.

This is called separation anxiety and is common among school-going toddlers. Every child is different goes through this phase differently. Some cry for a couple of days, some for weeks and some even for months, but eventually end up settling in the new environment.

How to handle your toddler’s tantrums?

Usually, children get out of this phase soon and begin going to school without any fuss. But if the condition prolongs for a long time, you might have to make certain modifications that will help you ease the dilemma in no time. So, here are a few tips and tricks that you can put to test right away.

1. Make sleep a priority: You must know how a tired toddler is a cranky toddler. Usually pre-schools are of morning batch, which means your toddler will have to wake up early and go to school. This is why you must ensure your toddler gets enough sleep so that he/she wakes up with a positive energy in the morning. Make sure your toddler is tucked in to bed early every night where you can sing him/her a lullaby or read a bedtime story. Along with your child, ensure sufficient sleep for yourself too, because you will have to deal with the morning rituals all by yourself.
2. Prep up the night before: If you think your toddler is likely to throw a tantrum in the morning, you can save yourself some time for the same by preparing certain things a night before. Tasks such as laying out your child’s uniform, polishing his/her shoes, packing the bag and so on, can be done before going to bed. This will save you a great deal of time in the morning, which can be allotted to handling your toddler’s tantrums.
3. Making the mornings pleasant: Often toddlers get cranky and throw tantrums before going to school because of separation anxiety. This anxiety arises out of the fact that they will not be having your attention and love for that long duration and hence do not want to leave the comfort of their home. Thus, you can spend a few moments in the morning cuddling and playing with your toddler, which will help subside their anxiety and ensure that your love and care is never ending. You can even drop your toddler off to school and also receive them to ensure they are in a relaxed state of mind.

The truth is, despite trying out all these gimmicks, your toddler will take his/her own sweet time to settle in the novice environment. So make sure you do not rush your child and keep the morning rituals simple, organized and routine so that your child doesn’t have to struggle with the same. Also ensure that your child is well fed before going to school in order to prevent his/her empty stomach more prone to creating tantrums. Do not concern too much, your child will soon learn to blend in the new environment of the school. So be patient and keep calm and try to avoid scolding your child. Soon your child will feel much better about school, which will make things simpler at your end too.

Do share this article with all the parents and help them to handle their toddler's tantrum