You always hear people say when you get mad or frustrated count to 10. yeah right like that ever works can you really change your mood in 10 seconds? Let me tell you, you can! After I had my second child, I had to find some new ways to deal with my older girl, a way to get her attention quickly (without spanking) and a way to get her to calm down so we can work together to find a solution to the problem.
This is what I do and it might help you,
When my child is crying because she hasn't gotten her way, or she is over reacting to some situation, I get down in her face and tell them that "we are going to count to ten and take big breaths, when we get to 10 the crying is going to stop so we can talk about what is going on".
I then begin to count, between each number I a big breath, like an overly big breath the kind you do when the doctor is listening to your lungs, by the time you get to 7 they might start breathing with you, or you may have a child they will hold their breath, or cry louder. (Both of my girls will cry all the way to 10 but then stop right once we get to 10) Once I get to 10 I say now lets talk. Sometimes it doesn't work right away, I them will tell them we will try this again in a minute, but until we try it again you are not moving from this spot.
I have been doing this for 3 years now and I have done it in a classroom setting with kids that are not my own, and it does work for the most part if anything it gets you to take big breaths.
