Temper tantrums can be an embarrassing experience, especially if they happen in public. Most parents do not know what to do, and often add to the trouble by getting angry, loud or even violent. Believe it or not, there are various things, we as parents can do to avoid our children having tantrums in public places.

We live in a demanding world, where everything is speeded up to a pretty stressful level. Parents are busy, and mums often have to work away from home, making it difficult to meet their children’s needs for enough love and attention. It would probably be better if mums could stay home, while the children are small, or at least until they are about 6 or 7 years old.

Small children need more sleep than older children, and their little bodies require a nap in the afternoon. If they go to Nursery, Kindergarten or Pre School, that is often not possible. By the time mum or dad come to pick them up, in the evening, after work, the children are simply exhausted. Having to go shopping on the way home is too much for their little patience, and that is usually why temper tantrums often occur in the Supermarket. Growing children get hungry more often than people expect, and if they are both tired and hungry at the same time, it would probably solve the problem, if they are given something to “munch” on, while mum is shopping. Perhaps a bag of little oatmeal biscuits or something nutritious like that would be good. Then, of course, the tired child might be upset because he is thirsty; so keep a small bottle of water or natural juice on hand. The better prepared you are, the less trouble there will be.