Sometimes, kids act out and throw tantrums because they don’t get your full attention. However, giving all your attention to your baby in the midst of a busy day is not an easy task. Early childhood educator and child parenting expert Alexandra Borisevich explained in her recent Instagram post that just a few minutes each day can reinforce positive responses in children by reducing the risk of challenging behaviors. According to Borisovich, tantrums thrown by children are their way of getting the attention of their parents, therefore, a simple daily routine can help solve this common need.
She explained, “Children often act out to get attention, and even negative attention is better than not being noticed. The need for attention is really a need for connection, a universal basic need, Which means we don’t want to ignore the child who is ‘trying to get attention.'”
The expert suggested that parents are left with options like spending more and more time with their children so that their tantrums are minimized and they are given attention from the start.
“Spend time reacting and trying to stop the challenging behavior (which reinforces them!),” she said. Another approach is to pay attention in advance, “paying positive attention beforehand, which reduces the child’s need to act in a challenging way to get your attention,” she explained.
Take a look at the post below:
A post shared by Alexandra | RECE, Early Interventionist (@empowered.parenting)