Toddler distraction techniques

[graysor]

What are your go to distraction techniques to head off a toddler tantrum?

When dd is in full raging tantrum obviously it’s too late for distraction, but if I think one is building what can I do to try and distract her?

I always seem to find myself kind of paralysed in the moment and can’t think of anything fun / silly/ distracting quick enough. So I need a few ideas filed away that I can call on!

Hit me with you best ideas!

Imagine you feeling hopelessly sad or angry and someone comes along and dismisses your feelings. I don’t think distraction techniques works and tramtrums are all part of your little on learning to deal with your emotion.

I agree that tantrums can’t be very stressful and often happen at the most inconvenient moment.

Often if we're out I'll something like 'ooh look there's a cat over there' or 'look at that little baby/girl/dog/car' sort of thing. 'I can see lots of cars there, can you? There's a red one, yellow one' etc etc I just desperately try to make anything around us seem interesting 😂

Never too late for distraction in a tantrum!

Look beyond your child at sth and fake a shocked reaction, ask your DC did you see that? Or sth similar, could be anything then talk about it. Worked with my very different two until they were old enough to suss out my strategy . Good luck OP.

Anotherangel - I know, distraction is useless when dd is already tantrumming. I try and do the acknowledge feelings etc at that point. What I’m after is some strategies to distract and divert before things escalate to full tantrum.

Night night - what about when we’re at home? I feel like there’s limited opportunity for ‘ooh, look at this interesting thing’ then.

You can acknowledge feelings and then distract - they don't have to be mutually exclusive??

What about going to the window and acting shocked 'oh wow what's that?!! Come and look.' My boys favourite toy is his cuddly monkey which is always up to make believe mischief so sometimes I'll do an urgent 'oh no! Where's monkey???!!!! Quick we have to find him before he does something naughty' or sometimes I'll say with a concerned look 'shhh shh listen, what's that noise?!' And then pray that we can actually hear something like an aeroplane/car/even the dishwasher. I also definitely overuse the snack bribe

Lady - I have tried distracting after acknowledging feelings in the midst of a tantrum.

I’ve tried come and play with , let’s sing/ dance , let’s jump around, attempting something daft or silly. There is honestly no distracting dd like that once she’s in a full tantrum. She shouts no mummy stop dancing/ singing / being silly. She will grab a toy off me and purposely throw it across the room etc etc.

I would say 50% of the time the distraction tactic works but at the moment we are going through lots of tantrums (ds is 2 tomorrow) and we just have to ride them out. It's all part of their development really.

Biscuits (unless that's what the tantrum was about)
Waffle Dog
Pretending to have a tantrum myself

I particularly enjoy the last one.

Try naming the feeling and then distracting. I find this works really well with my youngest who has social anxiety and can be challenging.

You are angry. Let's play a game.

You are frustrated/ disappointed. Oooo look bird etc etc.

Important to understand you don't have to agree with their feeling. Eg if they are furious because you won't buy/ give them something. Saying you are disappointed or angry. Is not the same as agreeing that it was the right response.

I like that idea Theresahairbrush. I'm going to start doing that.

You can get squishy balls in little nets. I produce one on the time-out chair (it really is more of a reflect and stop digging chair in our house!) and has a soothing, distracting effect.

Also helps to take them physically out of a situation - different room if possible, or different area. Fresh setting sub consciously changes their point of view.

There are some times when a tantrum really can't stop instantly though and it is doesn't matter what you do....

Have you thought of rain pipes and gazoos (?). The trick is definitely to keep them a novelty.

My destructive son also likes breaking up those dolphins you get that grow in water.