There is only one time you’ll ever want your child to throw a massive temper tantrum, and that’s when someone is trying to grab them! In this instance, kicking and screaming and thrashing around is literally the BEST thing your child can do 😂
Every parent knows how effective toddlers can be at wiggling out of a grip—and you can learn from their inspiring escape skills! Equally, anyone who has had a tired, grumpy and uncooperative child at the store who has been refused a toy or candy realizes how incredibly difficult it is to control or even get a good grip on a child in a full-blown tantrum 🤦🏻♀️
If nothing else, it draws an (embarrassing!) amount of attention and makes your job of getting them in the stroller, car seat, or car a LOT more difficult 😳
Just as it is effective against exasperated parents, the Temper Tantrum is effective self defense move for kids if they are grabbed or need to resisting being picked up, carried or thrown. It’s quick and simple, and it’s great for smaller children. It is also really easy to teach, so we love it at COBRA 💪
I am yet to find a child who doesn’t know what I mean when we say, “throw a tantrum and have a fit!” 😅But it’s really important that you practice this with your child; make sure they know they SHOULD throw a massive tantrum if they ever feel threatened! Teach them to yell, “Stranger, stranger! You’re not my mom or dad!” and other emergency words like, “No! Help! Fire!” 👊
While screaming they need to go berserk physically. If they are kicking really fast and an abductor tries to grab their ankles, he risks breaking a finger. If he does grab their ankles teach them the alligator roll, but they must resume kicking and screaming after the roll. If the child is picked up, teach them to dig their fingers in the bad guy’s eyes, wiggle, slip, kick and have the biggest temper tantrum of their life! In an abduction situation, your child’s voice is their biggest weapon! Their legs are their strongest weapons! And their secret weapon is always crazy confidence!
Want some help teaching, practicing and reinforcing lessons like these? Book a 1-on-1 Child Abduction Prevention (CAP) course for your child or get together with other families to book a group a session (like a play date only better!). This 2 hour interactive seminar can be held the comfort of your home or other convenient location.
