2 year old boy throws massive fits?

Question

I am a nanny for 3 boys ages 4,2 and 1. I have been with them for about two months now. The middle boy throws the biggest tantrums I have ever experienced. Today we went to the bookstore for storytime and they have a train table. The boys were allowed to play for a few minutes until storytime which they were both very excited about. I gave warnings that storytime was about to start and we would be going over to listen so when they made the announcement we were to go participate in storytime. All of the other children including my 4 year old listened and went to the reading area except my 2 year old. I then repeated it was time to go and he didn't listen so I gave him two options we could go to story time or go home. He ignored me for several minutes as if I wasn't even there talking to him. I then told home we had to go home because he wasn't following directions. He started screaming so I picked him up and he was violently hitting and kicking me the whole way to the car. He finally calmed down in the car so I tried to tell him we couldn't go to storytime because he was not being nice and screaming so loudly. He then cried the whole way home because he wanted to go to storytime. I am puzzled with how to respond to the extreme fits that happen on at least a daily basis. At home he has to go to his room and will sometimes scream at the top of his lungs for a solid 20 minutes before calming down. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to handle this? It's becoming very stressful.

Answer 1

Continue to be clear and follow up the consequences you outline for him. Don't get rattled by having to take him out of a public place if he's throwing a fit. All parents/nannies who are watching will applaud you for remaining calm and carrying through with what you have to do.



There are too many parents out there that seem to allow misbehaviour to continue. This child needs to learn how to interact & be in a social situation and you are teaching him that by being consistent with your words and your actions.



It would be interesting to be a 'fly on the wall' when his parents are home and you are not ...



If you keep up the good work his behaviour will change, if only while he's with you!



Good luck.

Answer 2

First I would talk with the parents about how they handle his tantrums. It will help greatly if you all are on the same page and always respond the same way. The child needs to know that there is always going to be the same consequences if he is with you or with his parents otherwise it is going to confuse him if you are the only one following through. That being said I am a fan of positive reinforcement especially as a nanny. Make him earn something he enjoys with good behavior. I would pick something that he can only earn with good behavior either a game, candy or a special toy but it has to be something that he really likes. He should not have access to this special toy unless he earns it and then I would put a time limit on it like 30 minutes. Before you go out in public remind him what he is earning and continue to remind him while there. Like I said this has to be something that he can only have if he earns it so if the parents are not following this and give it to him when you leave there this will not work. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

he needs a time out chair and disregard his tantrum if he doesn't sit in the chair he needs to stay until his timeout is over I used a kitchen timer for my grandson so he knew when it was time to leave his time out spot

Answer 4

Smack the little ****, that's what I would do! :)