Toddler Behavior - What Effects Can Diet Have?

When a child misbehaves, perhaps spectacularly so, the first priority is to regain control. This would apply particularly if it is in a public place, such as in the supermarket. One might actually have to consider 'giving in', if removing them to somewhere private is just not practical. If such a course of action is necessary, then it is vital to make sure that it is a temporary solution and try to ensure that it does not become a regular occurrence.

Because we all understand that no child is perfect, it is not the end of the world if your toddler uses extreme behavior to try to exert their will and get their own way. The problem comes if it becomes habitual and you come to dread the trip to the supermarket or any similar excursion.

I believe that many people simply do not understand that part of the problem could stem from something as simple as the child's diet. There are so many foods which contain lists of additives, chemicals etc. and of course many of these snacks and treats are especially designed to appeal to small children.

The excessively bright colors can be a warning sign; they can appear in sweets, drinks etc and for some children, even small amounts of the chemicals involved can have an effect on mood and behavior. While each individual additive has been tested and approved as not harmful, it is sometimes difficult to predict what combinations of such products can do.

The most common cause of difficult behavior is probably everybody's favorite -- sugar. Who does not enjoy a sweety treat of some kind occasionally? The problem can be when too much is taken in within too short a time, which is so easy when so much sugar is hidden in many products.

The other difficulty is the question: how much is ok and how much is too much? This can often only be answered on an individual basis, to it is up to us as parents to monitor what they eat and note any changes in behavior.

As a grandparent, I enjoy being a source of pleasurable treats and have needed to be corrected on occasion by my daughter, who has seen at first hand how certain sweets and drinks can have the boys 'bouncing off the walls'.

It is certainly not easy, but children do not have to be deprived of sweets altogether. It is just that being responsible and caring enough to say no at the right time, can certainly pay dividends in your child's calm behavior.

Making sure the child's diet does not lead to extreme behavior can have other positive effects as well. The child who is not regularly prone to tantrums is usually able to play more contentedly, both alone and with other children. Life without the mood swings is better for all concerned.