There are some smart ways to stop whining, hyper-activity, or tantrums before they even start, because once the anxiety reaches overload, it becomes that much harder to ease.

First, note objects that are just too tempting to little hands, and remove them from the scene. Why leave things out that you know may lead to anger when you take them away?

Second, become familiar with the times of the day when your child is most likely to become whiny or short-tempered. It may mean giving the child a nap a half hour earlier or giving out a favorite snack.

Third, don’t expect a child to wind down in five minutes after a period of boisterous play. Just as it takes you time to wind down after a day of work, a child needs some time too.

Fourth, set a good balance between overtaxing your child’s attention span and rushing the child from one activity to the next. The attention span may be short, but a child also needs a transition from one activity to the next.

Fifth, if a particular toy or game causes anger and fighting every day, either put that thing away or maybe buy enough so each child has one to play with.

Sixth, if you see trouble on the horizon, or a child’s whining is getting louder each moment, distract the child with a toy, a bird outside the window, a duty you’re doing—something that will get the child’s mind off the immediate irritation.

Last, don’t expect children to be anywhere near perfect.  They have yet to learn all those things that have made you a relatively well behaved adult. Be patient and help them