As derived by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 5 to 7% of toddlers show tantrums lasting 15 minutes or more for about three times a week. Moreover, children with language issues and autism display more frequent and intense outbursts because of the frustration they experience in expressing themselves.
As children grow up, they find more reasons to get upset about, right from being asked to do things they don’t feel like to not getting something they truly want. At Delhi Public School Kangra, one of the top CBSE schools in Kangra, we believe it is not ideal to keep a child feeling upset as it may impact their psychological, emotional, as well as physical health. Through this blog post today, we aim to discuss effective tips that can help calm an upset child. Read on.
Why Do Children Get Upset?
Children get upset because of all sorts of reasons, and as most parents would agree, such reactions are quite common. Often, this is led by children’s inability to express what they want or feel, leading to frustration. Imagine a young child who is feeling immensely pressured mentally but is unable to express the same in words. No wonder the encounter ends in a bothersome meltdown!
On other occasions, the feeling of being upset arises from feeling tired, hungry, and overwhelmed. This is where we at Delhi Public School Kangra feel understanding why children get upset helps parents and elders respond with patience and care, ultimately making taking corrective action a lot easier.
Proven Ways of Calming an Upset Child
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Mirror Calmness:
Staying calm when your child is upset is an unspoken prerequisite because children are in the habit of mirroring emotions held by their parents/elders. If you decide to remain composed, your demeanour shall send out signals that everything is okay, helping to soothe your child’s distress.
For example, if a child is throwing a tantrum in a store because they can’t have an item they want, your calm response, guided by a few deep breaths and a soft interaction, shall help de-escalate the situation. Instead of reacting with frustration, it is best to say something along the lines of, “I see you are upset. Let’s take a deep breath together.” This approach not only calms the child but also teaches them to handle strong emotions more effectively.
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Move to a Quiet Place:
Moving to a quiet space can work wonders in calming an upset child. A change in environment is said to remove children from the source of distress and provide a peaceful setting where they can reset their mood.
For instance, if a child is overwhelmed by a random argument in public, stepping into a quiet space can help reduce sensory overload and soothe their nerves. We at Delhi Public School Kangra have tried implementing this approach in our classrooms by introducing calm corners. These are quiet, cosy spaces where children can retreat when they feel upset, helping them regain their composure and return to feeling normal with a clearer mind.
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Tell them they have a CHOICE:
You may find this as something hard to relate to, but offering a choice to your children when upset can be a true game-changer. The idea here is to give children a complete sense of control, which quite often is what they crave in the first place.
For instance, if your child is frustrated about leaving the park, instead of saying, “It’s time to go,” you can simply reframe your sentence and say something like, “Do you want to walk to the car or skip like a kangaroo?” While this may sound childish at first, you’ll be surprised how effortlessly you have diverted them to focus on decision-making, smartly eliminating the possibility of a tantrum/disappointment. This simple shift shall make you feel empowered and quickly turn a meltdown into cooperation.
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Be Available. Period.:
Sometimes, just being there with your full attention proves effective in calming down an upset child. Why not offer a hug? After all, children love that physical reassurance. Similarly, acknowledging their feelings by saying, “I see you are really upset,” also helps as children are assured that you understand.
You can also try deep breathing exercises together, using a calm voice to guide them through it. Even then, if they continue to struggle, gently distract them with a game or another item of their choice to shift their focus. We at Delhi Public School Kangra would want you to remember that your presence, patience, and understanding make all the difference in helping your child feel safe and secure.
Baby! Calm down…Calm down…
We all have heard the popular track “Calm Down” by singer Rema and have thoroughly enjoyed it. While music works equally well in calming down an unsettled, upset child, we recommend you give the above tried and tested methodologies a shot, too.
While you proceed in this direction, you need to adapt to a positive and patient approach. We at Delhi Public School Kangra, positioned among the top CBSE schools in Kangra, shall continue to guide you as you take forward steps in supporting an upset child.