Toddler Activities

If toddlers ever needed excuses to throw tantrums, they’ve got them during the average vacation: disrupted sleep schedules, erratic eating, long periods of enforced sitting, unfamiliar surroundings. Since tantrums on the road are even tougher to deal with than tantrums at home, it’s best to try to prevent them when possible.

Sleepiness, hunger, or boredom can all trigger a tempest. Try to anticipate a toddler’s needs before he or she starts screaming for attention; bring on the snacks when meals will be delayed, reschedule a visit to a monument so your toddler won’t miss a nap, plan toddler-pleasing activities. Become a master traction, pulling tricks out of your little bag to occupy your toddler on the brink. And remember, more isn’t always better – under scheduling can prevent a tantrum as well. Building restful time into your schedule, time for reading, listening to music, hugging, may also prevent explosions.

Be patient, however, when explosions do occur. When a child has a tantrum in public, parents tend to put their own embarrassment first. Try not to do that; ignore those around you when your toddler lies down the floor and starts kicking in the airport, and try to treat your child as you would if you were alone.