If you’re the parent of one or several toddlers, you know that temper tantrums are just a part of life. It’s a stage that most all kids go through, and often times, there’s not much that can be done about it. But Beauty Through Imperfection actually found an excellent method that drastically reduced the number of tantrums she dealt with on a day to day basis. And she’s pretty confident that the trick will work for you too.

Here’s how it works:

I use this trick anytime I’m about to change something. I’ll use bedtime as an example, but this works for leaving the park or getting ready to ride in the car and other small changes as well. Before I make the change and get him ready for bed, I  tell him what was about to happen. I explain that he can continue playing while I count, but when I reach “10” the change would take place and we would begin preparing for bed. 90% of the time, he plays happily while I counted and then quietly comes along when I get to ’10’, avoiding any type of tantrum or outburst.

This trick works for a very simple reason that has to do with your child’s psyche. Check it out:

So many tantrums are caused by our little ones not being prepared for a change that is taking place. They feel out of control and do not know what to do with the uncertainty and disappointment they are feeling. Giving them even just a count to ten, allows them that time to process that a change is taking place in a tangible amount of time. For older children using terms like “in five minutes” works, but for children who have no concept of time, a number of minutes holds no meaning for them and doesn’t serve as much of a warning at all. Counting allows them to hear the words and recognize that they are passing by at a rate with which he is familiar.

Have you tried this method before? Or do you have other methods that you’ve found success with? We’d love to hear about them in the comments section below!