There is an article on handling temper tantrum on sunday lifestyle yesterday 29th Aug tittled "Ignore them, for crying out loud".
In summary, general public frown on kids throwing tantrums and parents ignoring them or not pacifying them in the public. However, the experts contacted by lifestyle were unanimous in saying that parents should ignore any hysterical crying fits thrown by their children, provided their safety is not compromised.
Occasionally, I do have students who behaved so. They will scream, yell and fight till the whole swimming pool can hear them when they do not get their ways. It is not easy to be firm and ignore them till they cool down as the whole population at the pool seems to be watching you. Most coaches will give in so that there will not be a scene. However, I do agree with the article and actually will refuse to give in no matter how loud they scream till they calm now. It is not easy to do so under the stares of lots of people. Furthermore, there will be some people who don’t understand and are probably thinking that this is a monster coach who is torturing the kid. (Might be bad for business too if they have this impression)
The thing is if you give him once, he will learn that throwing tantrum actually works in getting what he want. The next time you try to stop him, he will do it even more violently and longer till you cannot bear it. Then as time go by, you will not be able to handle him.
After the ignorance and "hard approach", I think should follow up with talking and "soft approach" so that he will understand why you are doing this and most kids will actually improve. So for the long term benefits, do bear with it for the time being.
