Adults' bad moods are relatively easy: a hot bath, a favorite book, a piece of chocolate, a walk around the block—you know what works for you. And as an adult, you know that your bad mood is temporary, and you're both more willing to look for a way to get past it and more likely to know what might snap you out of it.
Children's bad moods are a bit harder. Children are more affected by the frustrations and setbacks of day-to-day life than adults, and they have less of a sense of their moods as temporary things—so their anger or grumpiness sometimes feels more permanent or even justified to them. Children are less likely to realize that they're simply hungry, or tired, or overreacting…and it really doesn't help to point those things out to them.
Children are sometimes ready to stay in a bad mood just as long as it lasts, so while having a bath or reading a story or baking cookies may work, the best cures for a really persistent bad mood are often ones that use surprise and silliness.
The next time a kid you know has a big, bad mood, first: keep your own sense of humor. Then try these bad mood antidotes.
Just like a snowball fight, but less cold and seasonally-dependent.
Sometimes
bad moods call for a quiet solution, but other times kids need to
do something
active to shake themselves out of it.
Grab all the clean socks in the house and roll them up into balls. Divide the
balls
between individuals or teams. Take refuge behind the furniture. Sock fight!
Caveat: It's easiest to find all the socks afterward if you confine this activity to
just one room
in the
house. A room with a sofa or other useful bivouac is recommended.
This is more fun than it sounds. Sometimes kids need to hear that adults know they're fallible—in a safe way. And again, your
sense of humor is a powerful tool for helping children remember their own.
Tell a story that's well-known to your child (e.g. Little Red Riding Hood), but keep getting the story wrong in silly ways so
your child has a chance to correct you (e.g. "…and on her way through the forest, who did Little Red Riding Hood meet?
It was a zebra in its underwear, right?")—and a chance to see you're trying to make her laugh.
This activity may or may not result in a (much-needed) nap, but at the
very least it offers quiet time and/or time for the child by himself. Children
need these things as much as we do.
Grab 3-4 pillows and 2-3 blankets. Put the pillows in the bottom of a (dry)
bathtub, and toss the blankets on top. Invite your child in fully-clothed. You
may want to "scrub" him lightly (or suggest he "wash" himself), if he seems
to be getting into the game. Let your child "soak" for as long as he likes.
Caveat: Is your child the kind that might turn on the water? Then don't
leave him alone during this activity.
Just as sometimes a kid needs some time alone, other times she just needs some attention to help her feel supported and loved.
Have your child lie on a sofa or the floor. She's the ice cream "dish". Pretend to scoop ice cream onto her. Small pillows work well
as the "ice cream"—but consult the child about flavors and only scoop the ones she chooses. Then remind her that ice cream
dishes don't talk.
For fudge sauce and whipped cream, small, light blankets work well, but of course feel free to improvise. Sprinkle her thoroughly
with checkers for almonds (or whatever her favorite topping is), and remind her that ice cream sundaes don't giggle. Get a very
large serving spoon to "eat" your sundae (or let your child "eat" her way out of it herself).
Feel like doing a little real cooking? This recipe is unusual enough to delight most kids.
With a store-bought pancake mix, follow the directions for 8-10 pancakes. Have
your
child choose the filling and help layer it between the pancakes. Candles on
top are
always a nice touch. When done, cut a slice out of the stack just like you
would out
of a birthday cake.
Good ideas for fillings:
Banana slices
Whipped cream
Sliced strawberries
Peanut butter
Chocolate sauce
Maple syrup
Powdered sugar
Apple slices
Jam
Honey