A weekly 'fun-day' helped when my toddler's tantrums began

I thought we'd escaped the "terrible twos," but as my son neared three he began having tantrums. Changes started when I returned to the office full time and his grandpa watched him; his moods dipped and he stopped listening. I quit my job to be home again, but even with more time together the usual tools—time-outs and incentives—weren't calming him.

When I asked what was wrong, he kept saying, "I miss you" or "I want to see you." I realized I was physically present but often mentally distracted by chores and screens, so we created a non-negotiable once-a-week fun-day. He picks an activity from an activity jar and we spend a day off screens focusing on each other, and the change was almost immediate: fewer tantrums, more listening, and a visibly happier child.

We've visited the Georgia Aquarium to see sting rays, sharks, and an octopus, ridden a trolley at the Atlanta Zoo, had park picnics hunting for rocks and animals, painted at an art studio, explored the Atlanta Children's Museum, and spent a day at the firehouse.

USA, Atlanta

toddler tantrums, screen time, parenting, fun day, activity jar, quality time, georgia aquarium, atlanta zoo, child behavior, separation anxiety