Title: Temper Tantrums - A Normal Part of Growing Up
Category: Positive Parenting
Temper tantrums in young children are embarrassing for
parents. They are also equally hard to deal with by the children
themselves. Children will
scream and fuss and fall on the floor if
they don't get their way. They are
usually frustrated, angry or
scared. This usually occurs in
children between ages one and three
and usually stops by age four. Tantrums
are a very normal part of life in young children.
Most young children are constantly testing and trying to
take control. They want to
break loose and be independent but they
frequently do more than their safety and physical skills
allow. This is when they get
reprimanded and through disappointment
have a temper tantrum. Other times
they will have temper tantrums just
simply for attention because they are bored
or because they are mad about something else.
It's their way of showing
frustration and anger. Young
children have difficulty expressing what they feel and
so they feel misunderstood and may get upset. Throwing a temper tantrum
may be their only way of expressing their frustration and
pent up feelings. They are acting out their distress or fear of pain.
Parents certainly cannot prevent all tantrums, but they can
lessen them with reasonable expectations.
Try as a parent to keep your
child occupied with questions and stay involved with
them so that they don't have a lot of frustration and boredom on
their hands. Try not to say "No" so often. At the same time continue
to monitor their safety and set guidelines and limits on
what they can and cannot do. I
personally feel that "time-outs"
are the best way of disciplining a child when he has crossed that magic line one too many times.
Just understanding that temper tantrums are
a normal part of growing up
and that children that have them are not bad is
important. For some children
the tantrums may be beyond the range
of what you would consider normal for their age and perhaps
a consultation with your pediatrician or a psychologist would be
in order. The American
Academy of Pediatrics has helpful information which can be obtained by sending a business size
SASE to:
Temper
Tantrums, Department "C"
American Academy of Pediatrics
P.O. Box 927
Elk Grove Village, Il 60009-0927