JULY 2019 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 47
TACKLING TANTRUMS
COOLING OFF MELTDOWNS
STRONGER PATHWAYS TO CAREERS IN HEALTHCARE
NOW AVAILABLE AT SUNY OLD WESTBURY
Students from SUNY Old Westbury can
now pursue several popular healthcare
careers through the college’s new transfer
agreements with SUNY Downstate
Medical Center in Brooklyn.
The first-of-its kind partnership
between SUNY Downstate Medical
Center and SUNY Old Westbury offers
eligible students the opportunity
to pursue graduate and accelerated
degrees in preparation for careers as
physician assistants, physical therapists,
and nurses. The partnership is
the first within the SUNY system by
Downstate.
“Developing pathways like these for
our students is of critical importance
so they can access these important
opportunities in the medical field,”
said SUNY Old Westbury President
Calvin O. Butts III. “The education
provided by Downstate is excellent,
and we look forward to seeing our
students excel once they enter these
programs.”
Under the agreement, Old Westbury
students who meet the admissions
standards and deadlines will be given
priority enrollment consideration at
SUNY Downstate each year in its Bachelor
of Science/Doctorate of Physical
Therapy, Master of Science in Physician
Assistant, and Accelerated Bachelor of
Science in Nursing programs.
Eligibility requirements vary by program,
with each requiring Old Westbury
students to complete classes in
biology, chemistry, psychology and
other arts and sciences disciplines as
appropriate. For the Physician Assistant
and Nursing degree programs,
students must have an undergraduate
degree from Old Westbury before
applying to SUNY Downstate. All
Old Westbury students must also
obtain a recommendation from the
College’s Health Professions Advisory
Committee.
To learn more, visit www.oldwestbury.
edu/news/downstate.
# # #
PARENTING TIPS
By MICHELLE DELL’AQUILA
Tantrums and meltdowns can test the
very last nerve of every parent.
Children who experience meltdowns
are reacting to their environment in
a negative manner. Meltdowns can
raise blood pressure, cause headaches
and stomachaches, and upset
everyone involved.
There are a few things you can do to
handle tantrums effectively. First,
it is important to understand that
tantrums are learned behaviors,
which means you can help your child
unlearn this type of behavior by
teaching them the proper tools they
need in order to communicate better.
DON’T FEED TENSIONS
It is important to stay calm and
rational during a meltdown. Calm
behavior can be felt and seen by an
upset child, which can assist them in
calming down. By remaining calm,
you show your child by example
how to handle this type of
stressful situation with poise
and adult like behavior.
ADDRESS ANXIETY
LEVELS
Your role during a tantrum
is to listen. Take a deep
breath, quiet yourself,
and repeat slowly
what your child says
so that they know
you are listening.
A calm manner can
reduce the flood of
anxiety your child
is feeling, which
can help them calm
down.
TRY REASONING
LATER
Your child is not present
at this moment. Don’t
try to reason with your child if they
are not able to at the moment.
Teach your child to talk
about frustration or to
use words. Use caution
when trying to
“make” them come
to their senses. They
are only reacting in
a childlike way to
things they can’t
express through
speech.
REINFORCE
POSITIVE
BEHAVIOR
Acknowledgment
of positive
behavior is key
to helping curb
tantrums. This
sheds a desired light on being good
and receiving praise for positive
behavior. Acknowledging the good
can help your child understand that
throwing a tantrum will not get the
desired reaction.
GIVE THEM SPACE
Trying to talk to, correct, or interfere
while your child is very upset
can only make things worse. Try
giving your child some space and do
not acknowledge the bad behavior.
Reacting to emotional overload will
have no effect. It is best to wait until
they can be calm and understanding
once more. Forcing a child to
sit or listen during a meltdown can
stress out both the child and parent
more.
Michelle Dell’Aquila is a licensed
therapist and the director of
Child Development Advice, an
educational consulting agency.
childdevelopmentadvice.com
Child tantrums are
learned behavior.
(Getty Images)
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