Appropriate age group(s):
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School

Description of technique for dealing with temper tantrums:
You're shopping with your toddler, and everything is great. She's even cooperating and staying in the stroller. You tell her it's time to leave the Disney store, and she starts to shriek like you've just stuck her with a pin. What do you do?

Tell her if she doesn't stop screaming right now you will leave the store. If she doesn't stop screaming, get out of the store and go to a more private area. There is nothing worse than a temper tantrum on display but try not to lose your cool (absolutely easier said than done). Remember, the people in the store will continue to shop, what matters most is your ongoing relationship with your daughter.

Once you are in a place where you can deal, take a moment to decide what brought this tantrum on. Is it way past lunchtime? Then go feed her. Is this normally her naptime? Then perhaps it's time to leave the mall. Does she just have the "wants" for another toy or out of the stroller? Only you can decipher and determine what's best.

Now that I have a second child, I take a lot more in stride. But all I can tell you is that shopping with a child whose needs are being met is much easier than shopping with a child who is hungry, tired or worse, just doesn't want to be there. Try to incorporate some fun and exercise time (like walking in the mall outside of the stroller or indulging in some of the kiddie rides), some choice in what store they will go in (mommy is going to shop first while you're in the stroller, but then we'll go to the Disney store), and some common sense (I don't have a lot of patience today, and she just doesn't want to be here).

Other suggestions or comments:
The "whys" of this type of tantrum:
The mall is full of temptations.
Hunger or tiredness.
Boredom from being cooped up in the stroller.
Anger and frustration from not gettting the toy that they want.