Once the stage of the terrible twos hits you it leaves you wondering, what am I going to do with all these toddler tantrums? If you are concerned about how you are going to cope you are not alone.
Avoidance of the toddler tantrum is often the best way to cope providing you can do this without compromising on the limits you have set. Once they have exploded into a fully fledged rage there is little you can do but minimize the damage, keep them safe and try to end it as soon as possible.

A toddler tantrum defined by their inability to control their intense emotions and is often fueled by frustration at the lack of control they possess over their environment. It can be due to an accumulation of minor but stressful events that occurred to the toddler during the day which finally builds up into a storm often when they are overtired or hungry.

It pays to be vigilant at all times to avoid a toddler tantrum from erupting. Although it is not always achievable or practical, try to pre-empt their behavior. If it looks as though things are starting to build up, use a distraction to diffuse the situation before it begins. Try to work out what sets your little one off on a toddler tantrum; is it always at the shopping centre, at the end of the day or when you are due to leave someone's house? If there is a pattern to the behavior be prepared in advance by offering a distraction that leads into the next activity.

Toddler tantrums can often be caused by their inability to communicate. Research has demonstrated that better communication skills can be of a benefit for minimizing toddler tantrums. Baby sign language has shown to help with the earlier development of communication skills and could be used as not only an effective means of communication but also as a means for providing a distraction.

Once the toddler tantrum has begun, try not to lose control yourself. If you do lose your cool it might pay to take some time out before dealing with the situation, providing they are in no danger or risk of harming themselves. By raising your voice or losing your temper you are demonstrating to them that this is normal behavior and almost guaranteeing that they will continue to deal with situations with a lack of control in the future. Remember your toddler is feeling very scared of their ability to lose control and they are looking to you for support. By showing them that you have control over the situation when they have lost it will help them to calm down quicker.

Consistency is the key. Get a head start and be prepared for what is coming. Improve their communication skills early on to avoid the frustrations later. Remain one step ahead and provide an alternate option before the temper tantrum erupts. Pick your battles, don't fight them on every step of the way, if they are having a bad day make some allowances or put doing certain things off until another day.

Positive parenting is essential. Just remember, when you are at the shopping centre trying to avoid the flailing arms and legs from connecting, every other parent out there have all been there themselves.