TOT TO BLAME
Mum boasts that her three-year-old twins have NEVER had a tantrum, but her ‘secret’ leaves other parents divided
People can't believe some of her decisions
A MUM has revealed how her three-year-old twins have never had a tantrum and it’s down to a simple trick.
Former Apprentice star April Jackson, 34, claims to have a little-known hack which means "to date, they haven't had a single meltdown.”
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April discovered her parenting style was different to others after a conversation with a friend, and from this believes she knows the reason as to why her kids don’t argue with her.
But April, who is a television chef, took to her TikTok page and shared a video of her advice and it has since gone viral with over 1.3 million views.
She says: “If you’re pregnant and your baby is still in the 'alien phase,' I have some advice for you.
“But if you already have toddlers throwing tantrums, I’m really sorry; I’m no expert."
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The mum-of-two revealed that she was talking to a friend when she told her that her kids “hadn’t had a tantrum” to which her friend was shocked to hear how “possible” that was.
She mentioned that her friends' kids get upset when she takes away the iPad or turns off the TV.
But April told her that her kids “have never seen an iPad; they've never watched television.'”
This meant that she has never argued with her daughters over “screen time because it’s never been on."
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April then went to explain her second example which was food as her friend explained that if she has to say “no” to sugary snacks, her children “will go crazy.”
But the TV chef replied: “My kids have never had sugar.
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“They licked ice cream once in Jamaica but outside of that, no sugary items.
“When they ask for beetroot hummus with boiled eggs and avocado for breakfast, I'm happy to make it for them. They only know the food I want them to eat, so I’m excited to say yes."
She has also managed to prevent her kids from fighting with each other.
Aprill will dress her twins the same because “it’s peaceful” and it means they “don’t argue over anything.";
Zero tantrums
She continues: “There are times where they actually choose different clothes themselves but the point is that I always have the same thing available, so if they want to choose it’s easy to give it to them.”
April believes that if your children are already throwing tantrums “it might be because you've introduced them to things that aren't good for them.”
Her advice for pregnant ladies “or those with really little ones” is to avoid introducing things “that aren’t good for them all the time.”
For April, this means screens and sugary food.
My kids have never had sugar.
April Jackson
She adds: “So when my children ask for things, I can easily come from a place of yes and it makes my life easy.”
Her video gained a lot of attention with over 7,400 people rushing to the comments section.
One wrote: “Tantrums are healthy; a toddler needs to have them.”
To which April replied: “Maybe we have different definitions of tantrums.”
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Another added: “Girl, your kids are built differently. lol my kid once threw a tantrum because I buttered toast that she asked for incorrectly.
“To this day idk [I don’t know] what the correct way was.”
A third said: “You have a shock coming as they get older, you need to teach the skills to manage these issues earlier rather than later.”
But April replied: “I’m not sure what skills they are not learning, if you mean eating and entertainment then I don’t plan on restricting these things forever but they are three years old.”
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Someone else asked: “Genuinely wanting to know for myself in the future… do you as a family sit and watch TV? Or do you just watch TV once they are in bed?”
April replied: “Tbh [to be honest] I don’t watch TV that often, and when I do it’s after I put them to bed at 19:00.”
Different parenting styles explained
There are four recognised styles of parenting explained below:
Authoritarian Parenting
What some might describe as 'regimental' or 'strict parenting.
Parents with this style focus on strict rules, obedience, and discipline.
Authoritarian parents take over the decision-making power, rarely giving children any input in the matter.
When it comes to rules, you believe it's "my way or the highway."
Permissive Parenting
Often referred to as 'soft parenting' or 'yes mums/dads'.
Permissive parents are lenient, only stepping in when there's a serious problem.
They're quite forgiving and they adopt an attitude of "kids will be kids."
Oftentimes they act more like friends than authoritative figures.
Authoritative Parenting
Authoritative parents provide their children with rules and boundaries, but they also give them the freedom to make decisions.
With an authoritative parenting style, parents validate their children's feelings while also making it clear that the adults are ultimately in charge.
They use positive reinforcement techniques, like praise and reward systems, as opposed to harsh punishments.
Neglectful or Uninvolved Parenting
Essentially, neglectful parents ignore their children, who receive little guidance, nurturing, and parental attention.
They don't set rules or expectations, and they tend to have minimal knowledge about what their children are doing.
Uninvolved parents expect children to raise themselves. They don't devote much time or energy to meeting children's basic needs.
Uninvolved parents may be neglectful but it's not always intentional. A parent with mental health issues or substance abuse problems, for example, may not be able to care for a child's physical or emotional needs consistently.
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