Children can explode in tantrums when we least expect it, especially when they are young and their ability to verbalize what they feel is still reduced. Tantrums are a normal part of their development, and adults should understand them, respect the moment and accompany the child in this process.
That is why we have been struck by a sign located in the Parque de las Familias de Almería, which includes a series of rules that children "may or may not do" when they enter the premises, and which include "can't have tantrums". Strange, right?
Neither tantrums nor hitting or bathing
The Parque de las Familias, located in the city of Almería, is an area of 41,000 square meters where children can have fun, play and walk through areas full of fountains and gardens. But park use rules have angered some neighbors, who have complained to the City Council of dealing negatively with one of the aspects of children's emotional development: tantrums.
The poster with the rules has been shared by a user on her Facebook account, and it can read things that, according to the park managers, children "can and cannot" do inside the enclosure.
Among the positive things (marked in green and with the thumb symbol up) are playing, jumping, sharing, waiting for the turn and using the bins to take care of the environment. And among the negative things or those that could not be done (marked in red and with the finger down) would be bathing, fighting and having tantrums.
As we can read at the bottom of the poster, it has been prepared in collaboration with the Autism Association of Dárata, and Contains pictograms that represent each of these standards to facilitate their understanding to people with autism.
Tantrums are not a bad thing
We understand that bathing in the park's fountains is prohibited, as well as that parents should be aware of educating our children so that they do not hit other children (although we also know that when it comes to very young children, this behavior can not only reach to be normal, but also unpredictable). But, Prevent a child from having tantrums? Really?
Tantrums are not something negative that should be avoided, banned or hidden, as they are the way children have to express their emotions or explain their problems.It is true that the cry of a child in full tantrum can be very loud, and even annoying for some people. For parents it is also a behavior that worries, and in general, is usually poorly tolerated at the social level.
But we must not forget that children, especially the younger they are, they have very limited verbal communication skills, hence they resort to crying frequently if they are involved in an intense, unsettling emotion, are exhausted or simply do not know how to verbalize what they feel.
In Babies and moreFour fundamental keys on tantrumsAccompany. Do not prevent or ignore
In general, the tantrum phase usually takes place between two and four years, coinciding with the moment when they begin to discover themselves as independent people capable of having their own will.
However, there are those who continue to consider tantrums as something to repress or ban, denying the child his right to express himself. But a tantrum should never be ignored, and of course, neither be treated as something negative.
Sometimes parents can have a hard time calming the tantrums of our children, and what we least need at that time is to be judged by others, or that society disapproves or does not understand this normal phase of children's development.
In Babies and more Princesses also have tantrums: and we love how their parents handle itSo, we hope that the people who have developed the rules for this park in Almeria reconsider and understand that Tantrums are nothing bad to be banned, punished or removed. It is a phase that almost all children go through, and that is another step in their development.
