Has anyone tried 'Toddler calm' ?

[jouli]

My 21 month old has just begun tantrumming & I wondered had anyone had any success with the 'Toddler calm' workshops . Thanks.

[WitchesTit]

Never heard of toddler calm but I think that having tantrums are an important part of the passage of babies into childhood. I see tantrums as a positive form of protest and I really think that, while it shouldn't be encouraged, discouraging or disallowing this natural process can cause emotional problems later on.

[jouli]

My main reason for asking is that I wish to find a way of helping my DS when he has been taken over by this mood. He has a very sensitive,active,persistent nature & it distresses him & myself very much,as the tantrums can go on for an hour at a time. I don't wish to supress,or disallow him,I just want to calm him,or help him channel this force in more positive & less destructive ways( he is like a whirling dirvish & purposefully bangs into things,wallops his limbs against the ground,me etc..)

[Lunachick]

Yes! I loved the classes (did the 4-week course) & since I did it life has been much more harmonious [happy sigh]. I understand my son much better - also a sensitive, active boy like yours. The way you talk about how you'd like to help him makes me think you'd get a lot out of ToddlerCalm. I highly recommend it - changed the relationship with my toddler for the better, & I it gave me tools/techniques that I can use way past the toddler years too. Best money I've spent on any class, as I got a lot from it & my toddler benefitted too.

[RollerMummy]

i agree- from what i know, toddlercalm is more about you understanding your toddler, and why they do what they do, than trying to change them. it's not like supernanny etc trying to surpress behaviour and make stepford kids, but learning gentle ways of avoiding unnecessary meltdowns and helping your toddler to deal with their daily frustrations so that they can just get on with being a kid! i have a 3yr old and nearly 2yr old and tc looks perfect for us!

[spinaltap]

There was a thread about Toddler Calm a little while ago and I thought it sounded really good: link
I've found them on facebook too and they seem really helpful.

[jouli]

Thanks for your encouraging comments,Lunachick & Rollermummy,I think based on that I will try the classes,I'm sure that I could learn alot from it. And yes,Rollermummy,I too liked the idea that you would learn to communicate most effectively & sensitively with your toddler,instead of putting them on the 'naughty step'-that may work for some-but doesn't appeal to me,it sounds a bit like dog training...Also I'm sure us Mums with active,'spirited'(!!love that word!!) children realise that this Jo frost style parenting doesn't always work with our stubborn gits...Also we are expecting our DS2 in Feb,so I think it could be an investment with 2 wee boys in the house(eeeeeeeeeeekkk !!!)

[jouli]

Oh I BTW,Lunachick,must you attend with your DP/DH,or could you go by yourself ? That's what has been holding me back.My DH works FT & is going to college on his free days,so it's tricky for him to go. It's me who looks after DS all day,every day anyway,so p'haps it wouldn't matter?