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express their feelings. Having the ability to articulate their emotions can provide an alternative outlet for their frustrations. It is important, therefore, to help your child channel his or her frustrations through an alternative outlet by offering them language.

Because children understand a lot more than they can express, some parents have found that teaching Sign Language to their infants can help reduce tantrums. A child can learn to sign before learning how to speak and having this alternative means of communication reduces the level of frustration he or she feels. Sign Language can be taught from as early as five months old, however, when the child learns to sign will vary from individual to individual. Some children may begin signing as early as 10 months old, while others may not begin to sign until past the first year.

Being able to articulate what they are feeling and what they need or want can help toddlers feel more empowered. This helps to prevent tantrums that arise from the frustration of not being understood.

Language and the ability to communicate is one of the keys to reducing tantrums, therefore, anything you can do to help your child develop the necessary communications skills as early as possible will help reduce tantrums. For instance, studies have found that children with whom parents speak to often as babies tend to learn to speak earlier. Encourage your child to express his or her feelings and offer words you think would describe what his or her feelings.

2. Dealing with Tantrum Triggers

Toddlers are generally more prone to tantrums when they are hungry, tired or bored. As a parent, you will learn to read the signs when your child is tired, hungry or bored and can usually circumvent such tantrums by acting appropriately. Making sure you keep plenty of snacks on hand for times when meals might be delayed, activities to keep bored toddlers from getting into situations that may trigger a tantrum, and ensuring that your toddler gets enough sleep to avoid fatigue-induced crankiness.

3. Removing Tantrum Triggers

Toddlers are naturally curious. It is their curiosity that prompts them to learn more about the world around. It is also their curiosity that gets them into trouble. They want to touch everything they see, including Mum's Ming Vase and the remote controls to Dad's home entertainment unit. To avoid such battles of will, keep off-limit objects out of reach and out of sight.

In instances where a coveted object has been seized,

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