The meaning of Tantrums for Anyone with Children or Teaching Children - Case Study Example

TantrumsYou and one of your four year old pupils, Antonio, are tidying up after break. Antonio asks if he can have his candy bar from his snack box. You answer “no”, but Antonio persists until he is in a full-blown tantrum. How do you deal with Antonio’s behaviour? What do you do? Tantrums, for anyone with children or teaching children, are a fact of life. These tantrums normally start when a child is two and last to when the child is four, after which they occur with less frequency (Kennedy 32).

The first thing to do in this case is to stay calm in order to handle the situation in a proper manner. It is important to remember that Antonio’s tantrum may not be his way of getting his own way. It could be due to low blood sugar, lack of attention, or even frustration. Therefore, it is important to offer Antonio a coping strategy, such as telling him to calm down or risk a “time out” at the back of the class. If he ends up making the right choice, it is important to compliment him (Kennedy 34).

However, lack of compliance must be followed through with the laid down punishment. Antonio’s tantrum should not be rewarded because it could end up becoming his preferred way of communication socially. When the tantrum ends, the behaviour should be discussed with Antonio. While it is, of no use, to reason with Antonio during the tantrum, later is a good time to discuss it, and both of us can learn from the experience (Kennedy 35). During this period after the tantrum, I would explain to Antonio that the tantrum is not acceptable in class.

At the same time, I would make him feel that he is loved and appreciated despite the tantrum. However, physically disciplining Antonio would not be considered since it could make him believe that I am out of control; that striking an individual is behaviour, which is acceptable in the class and that his feelings must remain suppressed and that he should not vent or show his emotions (Kennedy 35). Work CitedKennedy, Michelle. Tantrums. Hauppauge, N.Y: Barron's, 2008. Print.