Punishment does not change the child engaging in the behaviour. Instead, it makes little ones avoid, at all costs, the source of punishment – that is, you. You are also responding to the behaviour with attention. Even though it is negative attention, any attention is attention, and thereby reinforcing the behaviour.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
ATTENTION SEEKING TANTRUMS ONLY
Your behaviour must model to your child a calm and regulated face and body. Specifically:
- Stay calm.
- Be neutral (neither happy nor angry).
- Give no eye contact to your child.
- Offer no verbal exchanges, e.g. “I said no”.
- Avoid reasoning or negotiating.
- Remove physical comfort and touch for a short period of time