Tantrums activities for toddlers

Teachers & homeschoolers · Activities · Updated October 1, 2026 · LearnLife Editorial

What are simple activities to help toddlers manage tantrums?

Toddlers experience tantrums because they often cannot yet express or manage intense emotions. Simple activities that build emotional awareness and introduce calming skills can reduce tantrum frequency and duration. One effective example is the “Feelings Faces” game: prepare cards or drawings showing basic emotions like happy, sad, angry, and scared. Sit with toddlers and say, “Can you find the angry face?” or “Show me a happy face with your own face.” This encourages labeling and recognizing emotions.

Another quick calming activity is “Bubble Breathing.” Give toddlers a bubble wand and say, “Let’s blow bubbles slowly to help our bodies feel calm.” Encourage them to take a deep breath in and blow gently to make bubbles. This teaches slow, controlled breathing that helps reduce frustration.

Here’s a simple table summarizing these activities:

In classrooms, these can be group activities during circle time, while at home, parents can incorporate them between play or before transitions. After each activity, debrief by asking, “How do you feel now?” or “What helped you feel calm?” This reflection builds toddlers’ self-awareness and vocabulary around emotions.

How can sensory play reduce tantrums in toddlers?

Sensory play offers physical and emotional grounding by engaging the senses, helping toddlers calm down when feelings overwhelm them. For example, a “Calm Down Jar” can be made with a clear bottle filled with water, glitter, and glue. When shaken, watching the glitter slowly settle encourages toddlers to breathe deeply and wait patiently.

Other sensory options include tactile bins filled with rice, beans, or water beads where toddlers can scoop, pour, and explore textures. These activities help distract from anger or frustration and provide soothing sensory input.

Steps to set up a sensory calming activity:

1. Choose safe sensory materials suited to age (e.g., rice, water beads).
2. Provide a container or bin for exploration.
3. Introduce the activity by saying, “Let’s play with these soft beans and see how they feel.”
4. Encourage slow, gentle touching and describing sensations (“This feels soft, doesn’t it?”).
5. Use a Calm Down Jar for a visual breathing break: “Watch the glitter fall as you breathe slowly.”

Sensory play usually takes 10-15 minutes and can be used anytime toddlers seem upset. In classrooms, sensory bins can be rotated among children to allow individual calming time. At home, caregivers can supervise and talk with toddlers about how the textures feel and if they help calm emotions.

What breathing exercises help toddlers control tantrums?

Teaching toddlers how to breathe deeply can interrupt tantrum escalation and develop lifelong emotional regulation skills. Two easy exercises are “Belly Breathing” and “Flower and Candle.”

For Belly Breathing:

• Have the toddler lie on their back or sit comfortably.
• Place a small stuffed animal on their belly.
• Say, “Let’s watch the bunny breathe. When you breathe in, the bunny goes up. When you breathe out, it goes down.”
• Guide them with “Breathe in slowly through your nose… now breathe out through your mouth.”

For Flower and Candle:

• Ask the child to “smell a flower” by taking a slow, deep breath in.
• Then “blow out a candle” by exhaling slowly.
• Repeat several times, modeling slow breathing.

These exercises take 3-5 minutes and require only props like a stuffed animal or imagination. Teachers can include this in transition times or calm-down routines in classrooms. At home, parents can use these when tantrums start or as a daily calming ritual.

Debrief by asking, “How does your tummy feel when the bunny goes up and down?” or “Did blowing out the candle help your body feel better?” This reinforces body awareness and control.

How can storytelling and role-play help toddlers with tantrums?

Stories and role-play offer toddlers ways to recognize emotions and practice responses safely. Select simple books focusing on feelings and frustration, such as a story about a character getting upset but calming down.

During reading:

• Pause to ask, “How do you think the character feels?”
• “What could they do to feel better?”

After the story, encourage toddlers to act out emotions using puppets, dolls, or gestures. For example, role-play “Take a deep breath” or “Ask a friend for help.” This practice develops empathy, vocabulary, and problem-solving skills.

A sample role-play script:

• Adult: “If you feel angry, what can you do?”
• Toddler: “Take a deep breath.”
• Adult: “Yes! Let’s practice together.”

Sessions can last 10-20 minutes depending on attention spans. In classrooms, role-play can be part of group activities; at home, parents can model and guide interactive storytelling.

Debrief by asking, “What did you learn from the story?” or “What will you do when you feel angry?” This helps toddlers connect story lessons to real-life feelings.

What calming corner activities can support toddlers during tantrums?

A calming corner is a quiet, safe space filled with tools toddlers can use to self-soothe during strong emotions. It might include:

• Soft pillows or a small beanbag chair
• Sensory bottles or calm down jars
• Picture books about feelings
• Weighted lap pads or soft stuffed animals
• Calm down cards with simple steps (e.g., “Take 3 deep breaths,” “Count to 5”)

Steps to create and use a calming corner:

1. Choose a low-traffic corner or small space accessible to toddlers.
2. Add calming items and display clear instructions or cards.
3. Teach toddlers, “When you feel upset, you can go here to help your body calm down.”
4. Encourage brief visits when toddlers feel frustrated or after tantrums.
5. Adults should respect the toddler’s time in the corner without distractions.

A calming corner visit usually lasts 5-10 minutes. Teachers can rotate children through the space or invite them when they notice signs of frustration. At home, parents can gently guide toddlers to the space and stay nearby to offer reassurance.

Afterward, ask, “How did sitting here help you feel?” or “What will you do next time you feel upset?” This reinforces the calming corner as a positive coping strategy.

How can music and movement reduce toddler tantrums?

Music and movement activities help toddlers express emotions physically and shift attention away from distress. Examples include:

• Freeze Dance: Play music and have children dance, then pause music and everyone freezes. This teaches body control and focus.
• Emotion Songs: Sing simple songs about feelings (e.g., “If you’re happy and you know it”) to connect movement with emotional expression.
• Gentle stretches or slow dancing to calm music can also soothe.

Steps for Freeze Dance:

1. Play upbeat music and encourage free dancing.
2. Stop music suddenly; everyone freezes in place.
3. Repeat several times, gradually slowing music and movement.
4. End with a cool-down song, inviting children to breathe and relax.

These activities take 10-15 minutes and require only music or singing voices. In classrooms, they build group engagement and social skills. At home, parents can join to encourage emotional expression.

Afterward, ask, “Did dancing help you feel better?” or “Which song makes you happy?” This helps toddlers link movement and music to mood changes.

What role do visual schedules play in preventing tantrums?

Visual schedules help toddlers understand and anticipate daily activities, reducing anxiety and tantrums caused by surprises. A schedule uses pictures or icons for mealtime, playtime, naps, and transitions.

Creating a visual schedule:

• Identify key daily routines.
• Find or draw simple pictures representing each activity.
• Arrange pictures in order on a board, wall, or pocket chart.
• Introduce the schedule by saying, “First, we eat breakfast. Then, playtime.”
• Encourage toddlers to check the schedule throughout the day.

Benefits include increased predictability and a sense of control, which eases frustration.

Here’s a sample visual schedule layout for toddlers:

Classrooms can use large, visible boards; homes might use fridge magnets or boards at child height. Regularly reviewing the schedule with toddlers helps them adjust expectations calmly.

How can toddlers practice expressing feelings through art?

Art provides a nonverbal way for toddlers to express emotions related to tantrums. Materials like crayons, finger paints, or modeling clay allow toddlers to create freely.

Steps for an art feelings activity:

1. Provide art supplies and paper or clay.
2. Ask simple prompts, such as “Can you draw what happy looks like?” or “Show me a picture of your angry face.”
3. Encourage toddlers to talk about their art: “Tell me about your picture.”
4. Validate all expressions by saying, “It’s okay to feel angry sometimes.”

Art sessions can last 15-20 minutes and be individual or group activities.

At home or in class, use the art to start conversations about emotions, helping toddlers understand and regulate feelings linked to tantrums.

How can caregivers adapt tantrum activities for homeschool versus classroom settings?

Activities should be flexible to fit either setting’s needs:

• Homeschool: One-on-one attention allows tailoring pacing and content to the child’s cues. Parents can weave tantrum activities into daily routines, such as bubble breathing before transitions or using calming corners after upsetting moments. This individualized approach helps toddlers connect calming strategies with their feelings.

• Classroom: Teachers manage groups, so activities need to be brief, engaging, and easy to monitor. Group games like Freeze Dance or Feelings Faces can be done in circle time. Sensory and calming corners help children self-regulate independently with adult supervision. Consistent routines and visual schedules support the entire class’s emotional needs.

Both settings benefit from regular reflection time: ask toddlers about their feelings and what helped them calm down to reinforce emotional skills.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if a toddler’s tantrum is more than typical behavior?

If tantrums are very frequent, last unusually long, or include aggressive behavior beyond typical frustration, it may warrant professional evaluation. Consulting a pediatrician or behavioral therapist can help identify underlying issues.

What is the best way to introduce calming activities during a tantrum?

Sometimes it’s better to wait until the toddler’s peak distress decreases before introducing calming activities. Use gentle language like, “Let’s take some big breaths together,” and model the behavior to invite participation without pressure.

Can I combine sensory play with breathing exercises?

Yes, combining tactile sensory items (like a calm down jar) with breathing exercises reinforces calming. For example, encourage toddlers to watch glitter settle as they take slow breaths for a multi-sensory calming effect.

How do I encourage reluctant toddlers to express their feelings?

Offer choices about activities, use playful or imaginative language, and model your own emotional expression. Patience and repetition help toddlers feel safe sharing feelings.

Are visual schedules helpful for all toddlers?

Visual schedules are particularly helpful for toddlers who benefit from routine and predictability. They can reduce anxiety and tantrums by clarifying expectations. Adapt schedules with simple images or real photos for best results.

When should I seek advice about toddler tantrums from a professional?

If tantrums interfere significantly with daily life, cause injury, or do not improve with consistent strategies, consult a pediatrician or behavioral therapist. Early support can promote better emotional development.