10 Fun Tips for Dealing with a Threenager

Those of you who follow the blog may remember a recent post I did called Midnight Call Into Darkness. Basically an overview of how stressed I was feeling dealing with an almost three year old. I know many of you are right there with me with your own little threenagers.

One day, not too long ago, my daughter and I were in the midst of yet another battle of wills and attitude. But in this particular moment, instead of reaching the breaking point and having my very own “boom” moment, I took a mental step back and just watched my daughter for a few minutes. The next thing I knew, instead of fighting back tears of frustration, I was fighting back tears of laughter! I don’t know if I had the right amount of coffee or just enough sleep that day, but whatever it was, I was able to actually laugh at the situation!

So, today I’d like to keep things light with 10 Fun Tips for Dealing with a Threenager:

  1. Fart and burp noises made with your mouth will make almost any kid giggle with delight. If you’re brave enough, go all out and make real ones. You won’t regret it!
  2. Build up your repertoire of silly noises so you can always have one ready when needed. Surprise silly noises are good attention grabbers and, if you’re lucky, may earn you a couple seconds of calm within the storm.
  3. Stand in front of the mirror and practice making silly faces so you can whip one out as fast as possible. Similar results as silly noises.
  4. Stock up on DumDum suckers and pull them out when you’re in a bind and you need your kid to calm down RIGHT NOW. Not only do they work wonders to calm the crazies, they also keep kids quiet, at least for a bit. {You’re on your own for dealing with the sugar crash!}
    Sucker
  5. Ice cream and frozen yogurt are also great for giving you several minutes of quiet time. My daughter gets so focused on her ice cream that I almost forget she’s there, she’s that quiet! I’ve been tempted to pull this one out at 9:00 in the morning, but luckily haven’t been quite that desperate!
    FroYo
  6. Sing and dance together. The more over the top, the better. Bonus points for incorporating bodily noises into the mix!
  7. Bubbles. Need I say more?
    Bubbles
  8. Selective hearing. This really comes in handy when tantrums and screaming ensue. If only our ears came with a mute button (or our children’s mouths for that matter)!
  9. My iPhone camera has been known to ward off many a tantrum at our house, plus it’s fun to look through the pictures later!
    ToddlerPicture
  10. Run to the bathroom and lock the door anytime your threenager is distracted and playing safely. One private bathroom trip in a day is considered a win!

Leave a comment below and tell us your fun and whacky tips for dealing with your kids when they get a case of the crazies!

Becky
Becky is a Minnesota Native and Wisconsin Badger fan living in the heart of Hawkeye Country. Since graduating from high school, she has lived in Duluth, MN; Birmingham, UK; Minneapolis, MN; Louisville, KY; and Madison, WI, but is now happy to call Iowa City home. She and her husband have been married for ten years and have a spirited four-year-old daughter and a mischievous baby boy. Becky juggles working from home and keeping two kids happy each and every day. In her free time, she enjoys working her side business, spending time with friends, relaxing with a good book, and eating snacks.

1 COMMENT

  1. It sure is fun isn’t it! To add to your silly noises, any silly noise we make or hear, especially when she’s grumping, I’ll make a confused face, look around the room, and call out for one of her favorite princess names. As in “was that you Cinderella?” She can’t help but laugh. 🙂

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