social skills 129
Before giving him a ‘time out’, hold him firmly and explain to him how
you want him to behave. When
he is calmer, communicate with
Omar, kicking your brother is wrong.
him about why he needed a
‘time out’ and about how his
Let’s think of another way you can
let him know when you are angry.
behavior affects others. Always
remind him that you like him, but
that you do not like the way he acted.
Encourage him to talk or sign about what
happened and why and how he could
react differently. Help him understand
why he needed the ‘time out’.
What to do if your child has a tantrum
As with many other young children, your child’s anger may become a
‘temper tantrum’. A tantrum is when a child completely loses control
and screams, kicks, hits, or cries. Children who cannot communicate
easily usually have more tantrums than other children, and it may be
harder to calm them down.
It is important for you stay as calm as you can. Take a minute to decide
what to do. Here are some useful ways to deal with tantrums:
• Do not try to explain things to him once he has lost control. This is
not the time for a discussion.
• Do not respond to your child’s screaming and kicking, but do not
leave him completely alone. His behavior may frighten him and he
needs you nearby for security.
• Do not spank, pinch, shake, or scream at your child. This will only
make the tantrum worse. But do not let him hit you. You can
hold him, but only to prevent him from hurting himself,
hurting you, or breaking things.
• Try to distract a child during
a tantrum. For example, if
your child yells because you
have taken something away
from him, you can try to offer
something else that he wants or
show him something unusual.
This works better with very
young children.
Take a child who is having
a tantrum away from the
situation if you can.
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)