Howdy,

I stumbled across this one tip and, man, is it genius.

You can try this with kids as young as 1.5.

It’s called the “tantrum game.”

When you’re at home, and your kid is calm, explain the following…

• I will tell you that you can’t do something, but you can. We're just playing.

• You get to have a pretend tantrum. You're allowed to get mad, but you can’t hit.

• Doing this will give you a point/sticker on a chart.

Now….

This sets the tone for the game.

Then you tell them, “You cannot watch TV tonight,” and watch them go nuts...

From here, it’s important to do 3 things…

1. Heap on praise - “That was great! You got mad, and you didn’t hit Daddy!”

2. Do something nonverbal - high five, fist bump, tap on the head, add a sticker to the chart

3. Run it again - “I bet you can’t do two in a row. No 4 year-old can do two in a row. Okay, let’s try another.”

Now, here's how you handle a real tantrum...

When one starts, and they don’t hit, you can say...

“Woah, we’re not even playing the game, and you didn’t hit…that’s amazing!”

Researchers have used this approach thousands of times.

Tantrums disappear or significantly reduce within a few weeks.

Here's why it works...

When your kid is freaking out, they're not trying to give you a hard time...

They're having a hard time.

Parents (myself included) resort to negativity and punishment.

Your kid needs positive reinforcement.

This game allows them to get praise and practice how to handle their big emotions when the stakes a low.

Quote of the week

A riddle for you/your kids…

The answer to last week’s riddle? A Fire

Here’s this week’s…

I am often running yet have no legs. You need me but I don't need you. What am I?

I’ll reveal the answer next week (or you can reply if you know!)

I’ll see ya next Sunday.

P.S. This is worth 5 minutes of your time.

you