Temper Tantrums

Temper Tantrums are the way a young child lets out strong emotions before he/she is able to express them in a socially acceptable way. Although a child may seem out of control, these fits of rage, screaming, throwing himself/herself on the floor are a normal phase of child development. They often begin around age 1 year and can continue through age 3. Most of the time the child is looking for attention and they typically occur only with a parent. Although temper tantrums sometimes happen without warning, parents often can tell when a child is becoming upset.

Tips to Dealing With Tantrums

• Avoid letting your child become overtired or hungry by maintaining routines for meals and sleep times.
• Ignore the bad behavior as long as there is no immediate danger.
• Do not give in to the tantrum as they will learn to use inappropriate behavior to get their way.
• Use time-out for a short period (1 minute per year of age) or until they calm down.
• Try to refocus your child with something else like a toy or book.
• Encourage good behavior with positive reinforcement.

Pauline Comfrey, APRN