My new trick to avoid toddler meltdowns

This post was also featured on The Stir by CafeMom.

It was half-past no-nap thirty and OMG-how-much-longer-until-the-hubby-is-done-with-work. Yep, a scary place to be (and usually when I’m trying my best to avoid my own 5pm meltdown).

That’s when I heard it.

Telltale sounds of a minor fall off the couch that were about to erupt into a full-blown fake cry I’m-too-tired meltdown from my 3-year-old.

But today, I got smart.

I reached into our fridge door for the awesomely quick and easy fix I like to use for a quick meltdown diversion. In other words, one easy answer for how to avoid toddler tantrums.

Cold Play-Doh.

Yep, that’s it!

Throw it in a sandwich bag, have the little one put it on their boo-boo, and let the coolness helps ease the sting of the scrape or bruise.

Give them some fun plastic tools to make shapes with it, and it’s a great distraction that takes their mind off the pain.

Pretty soon, little brother was joining in on the fun, which basically makes my whole day an epic Mama win. #irock

Lil’ guy even brought his Legos along to make some more cool shapes.

No meltdowns here! (Now if I could just get dinner together, I’d be set.)

Cheers to you, my little toy soldiers. The war may not be over, but in the case of today’s toddler meltdowns, this battle is won.

What are you favorite, creative ways to make boo-boos feel better? Share them in the comments section below.