How can such a tiny person create so much noise?? Sure, we all know kids can be noisy, but screaming! Why?
When my toddler son was going through a screaming phase, it scared the hell out of me at first! I leaped off of my seat like a cat and burst through his bedroom like the special forces. He was fine.
My heart was beating through my chest!
After a while, it became normal behavior, which worried me more. What if he screamed and I didn’t react when he needed me?
In this post, I will look at the best ways you can get a toddler to stop screaming.
Your toddler is not the best communicator. My son could not string a sentence together when he went through the screaming phase. I am sure that his lack of communicative abilities led him to scream when he didn’t know the right words to use!
Sit down with your toddler and speak to them. Let them listen to the words you use. Your toddler will learn to communicate better simply by listening to the way you talk.
Ask yourself if you are giving them enough attention. When I say ask yourself, I mean drop the pretense and decide whether or not you are giving them enough attention.
It is difficult to question your parenting abilities, and I understand that. But needs must, and if you want your toddler to stop screaming, you need to get back to basics.
Occupy Your Toddler
If you want your toddler to stop screaming immediately, you had better get some awesome distraction techniques under your belt.
You need to put aside a few distraction ideas when your toddler is causing some embarrassment by screaming in a public place.
Consider carrying one of their small toys in your pocket or bag. Bring it out when the screaming begins. It worked for my son every time!
Reward Good Behavior
I genuinely believe that rewarding good behavior is one of the most powerful things you can do as a parent.
Be careful, though; there is a fine line between rewarding good behavior and bribery.
Bribery is bad, rewarding good behavior is good.
The critical difference is that you do not offer a reward before specific good behavior is shown. Sure, you can offer rewards if the behavior is good over some time. Use a rewards chart for this. Bribery is offering a reward for good behavior immediately or over a short period.
Let’s face it, what is funnier than watching your parents jump out of their skin?
Kids love to see your reaction and find it extremely funny when you jump. The result is that your toddler wants to do it again, again, and again until they get bored of it.
Kids never get bored of scaring you, by the way.
Your Toddler Is Scared
It could be that your toddler is genuinely scared, which is the worst thing about your toddler screaming.
Damn, in your time as a parent to a toddler, how many times have you heard the phrase:
It is just a phase
Says everybody when a child is acting up!
Is it true, though? It is likely a phase your toddler is going through, and riding it out might be the only way you will get through it?
I know it is easier said than done.
Frustration
This is very similar to your toddler not being able to communicate correctly.
It is not just communication, though; it is everything.
Your toddler will be looking at everyone, wanting to do everything they are doing. Does your toddler have older siblings? They may be looking at their older siblings, and the frustration is creeping in because they can’t run as fast, speak, and jump as high.
Reassure your toddler that they are doing well. Help them achieve what they want to achieve.
Is it normal for a 3-year-old to yell?
3-year-olds are not known for their calm, quiet demeanor. It’s normal for them to be loud and rowdy, especially when they’re excited or upset. So if your 3-year-old is yelling, don’t panic. It’s probably just their way of expressing themselves.
However, there are some instances where yelling may not be normal for a 3-year-old.
For example, if your child is screaming because they saw a cockroach in the garage, that’s probably not okay. In this case, it would be best to talk to your child and help them understand why it’s not necessary to yell in that situation.
If your child is continually yelling without any plausible explanation, it may be worth talking to their pediatrician to see if there’s something else going on. But in general, a little yelling from your 3-year-old is nothing to worry about.
How do I get my 3-year-old to stop screaming at me?
You can do a few things to get your 3-year-old to stop screaming at you. One is to try and figure out what is causing the screaming. Is there something that is upsetting them? If so, try to remove the source of the problem.
For example, if they’re screaming because they saw a bug, get rid of the bug and then try talking to them calmly. Another option is to just ignore the screaming. This can be tough, but sometimes it’s the best thing to do. If you react to the screaming, it will only reinforce the behavior. So just wait it out, and eventually, they’ll stop.
Finally, you can always put them in time out if it fails. But make sure they’re in a safe place, like their bedroom or the garage, where they can’t hurt themselves or destroy anything. With a little patience and understanding, you should be able to get your 3-year-old to stop screaming at you.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why, but this post will help you understand how to get a toddler to stop screaming.
The most important thing is that you communicate with your toddler and teach them how to communicate effectively. You are their role model, and they will learn from you.
Be less angry, be less frustrated, and your toddler behavior will surely follow.
