Temper Tantrums In Children

What are temper tantrums?

A temper tantrum is an unplanned, unintentional expression of anger, often with physical and verbal outbursts; it is not an act to get attention, as is commonly thought. During a temper tantrum, children typically cry, yell, and flail their arms and legs. Temper tantrums usually last 30 seconds to 2 minutes and are most intense at the onset.

Occasionally temper tantrums last longer and consist of more aggressive behavior, such as hitting, biting, and pinching. If this type of more aggressive behavior becomes common, a behavioral disorder or other health condition may be the cause.Anyone can have a tantrum, even an adult. However, temper tantrums are most common in children between the ages of 2 and 4 years.

Is it normal for my child to have temper tantrums?

Temper tantrums are common, occurring in about 80% of children between the ages of 2 and 4. About 20% of 2-year-olds and 10% of 4-year-olds have daily temper tantrums.

Why do children have temper tantrums?

A tantrum is a normal and expected response when something interferes with a young child's attempt to achieve independence or to master a skill. For example, a temper tantrum may be triggered by a child becoming frustrated while trying to button a shirt or by being told it is time for bed when he or she wants to stay up longer.

Some children are more likely to have temper tantrums than other children. Factors that contribute to a child's tendency to have tantrums include the child's age and stage of development, temperament, whether underlying health conditions are present (such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] or autism), fatigue, and stress in the child's environment. Also, a child may be more likely to have temper tantrums if parents react too strongly to difficult behavior or give in to the child's demands.

Symptoms

Usually, temper tantrums last 30 seconds to 2 minutes and are most intense during the first 30 seconds. During a tantrum, a child may:

* Cry, scream, or shout.
* Arch the back or tense the body.
* Flail the arms.

Temper tantrums are most likely to occur when a child is afraid, overtired, or uncomfortable. Breath-holding spells may sometimes occur with tantrums.

Difficult behavior that frequently lasts longer than 15 minutes, occurs more than 3 times a day, or is more aggressive may indicate that a child has an underlying medical, emotional, or social problem that needs attention. These are not considered typical temper tantrums. Difficult behaviors may include:

* Kicking, hitting, biting, scratching, hair pulling, or pinching other people.
* Throwing or breaking things.
* Head-banging or inflicting self-injury.

Although breath-holding alone is not a sign of a an underlying health or behavioral problem, it may need evaluation if it occurs with other more violent symptoms.

Temper Tantrums In Children

Treatment Overview

Most children learn other ways to deal with their anger and other strong emotions as they grow older and do not need medical treatment for temper tantrums. Ignoring the tantrum behavior and helping a young child learn how to handle his or her feelings is most often all that is needed.

Parenting workshops can be helpful for parents of a child who has temper tantrums. These types of programs often help parents become familiar with growth and developmental stages and provide strategies on how to handle difficult behavior in a constructive way.

Medical treatment for temper tantrums may be recommended for children who:

* Have long-lasting and frequent temper tantrums.
* Regularly have temper tantrums after 4 years of age.
* Hurt themselves or become violent.

Talk with a health professional if:

* You have concerns about your child's temper tantrums.
* Your child's temper tantrums frequently last longer than 15 minutes or occur more than 3 times a day.
* Your child's behavior does not improve after 4 years of age.
* Your child hurts himself or herself or other people or objects during a temper tantrum.
* You have problems handling your child's behavior, particularly if you are concerned that you might hurt your child.
* You want help with learning to cope with your feelings during your child's temper tantrums.

Home Treatment

Expect your 1- or 2-year-old to have temper tantrums. Tantrums are a normal part of learning independence and mastery in this age group. If your young child has temper tantrums, try the following:

* Ignore the behavior. Sometimes ignoring the tantrum works best, especially since tantrums usually last less than 2 minutes, and attempts to stop a tantrum usually make it worse. When you stop responding to your child's temper tantrums, the behavior may get worse for a few days before it stops. Ignoring some temper tantrums (such as when a child has one because he or she does not want to go to bed, or is kicking, biting, and pinching) may not be possible.

* Praise for calming down. After a tantrum, comfort your child without giving into her or his demands. Tell your child that he or she was out of control and needed time to calm down. Never make fun of or punish a child who has had a temper tantrum. Don't use words like “bad girl” or “bad boy” to describe your child during a temper tantrum.

* Acknowledge the feeling. Once your child is calm, acknowledge his or her feelings of frustration and anger. You might say, “I know that you were frustrated because you could not tie your shoes.”

* Teach other ways to handle anger and frustration. Teaching a child different ways to deal with negative emotions may reduce the number of temper tantrums a child has or prevent temper tantrums from getting worse. Offer simple suggestions to help a child learn self-control. For example, encourage your child to use words to express feelings or establish a safe, comfortable, place in the home where your child can go to calm down. Notice and praise good behavior.

* Encourage taking a break from a frustrating activity or redirect the child to a task he or she has already mastered.

* Be a good role model. Children often learn by watching their parents. Set a good example by handling your own frustration calmly.

Article Source: Medical Health Care Information