Toddlers are emotional creatures. It’s an ongoing game of whack-a-mole in dealing with flare-ups of things my daughter is upset about. But I’ve learned quickly that there are usually just a few core culprits that need to be addressed.
And an interesting revelation that I’ve had as a parent is just how similar adults and children are. At the end of the day… we’re just big kids. In many cases, the same things that are true about kids are also true about adults, just on a bigger scale. Including emotions.
Below is a list of 7 reasons why my daughter is probably upset.
- Not Enough or Wrong Food – Hunger can bring out the worst in little people. Not having enough food, or eating bad food that causes a spike and crash is a sure-fire way to cause emotions to flare.
- Not Enough Sleep – Naptime and bedtime are required in our house, as I know that a tired girl will be on the brink of emotional disaster at all times.
- Didn’t Get Something She Wanted – If she convinced herself she needs something, and doesn’t get it, it can be devastating. We’re always working on framing needs vs wants.
- Too Much Screen Time – It’s easy as a parent to let your kid watch a tv show while you take care of other things, but too much screen time has repeatedly caused my daughter to get emotional.
- Somebody Was Mean – My daughter thinks that the world needs to be fair, and will get upset if somebody wronged her. We’re always coaching her that things aren’t always in your control, and how to respond to other people’s actions.
- Jealous Over Somebody Else’s Toy – When it comes to other kid’s toys, toddlers have the strongest sense of desire known to man. It will be a life long lesson on how to not be jealous that somebody else has something you want.
- Not Enough Outdoor Time – Spending at least an hour or two in nature makes a huge difference in her emotions. If we are stuck inside all day, it makes everyone more cranky.
Leave a Reply