| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
RAISING
KIDS
Lost in a Sea of
Temper Tantrums
BY KIDSHEALTH.ORG
You’re witnessing your toddler’s second temper tantrum of the day.
It shows no signs of stopping, and the supersonic, ear—shattering, teeth—jarring
screams pierce the air. Your first instinct is to run away and join the circus,
but of course this isn’t a real option. There must be a better way.
Temper tantrums range from whining and crying to screaming, kicking, hitting,
and breath holding. They’re equally common in boys and girls and usually
occur from age 1 to age 3. Some children may experience regular tantrums, whereas
for other children, tantrums may be few and far between. Children’s temperaments
vary dramatically — some kids are more prone to tantrums than others.
During the kicking—and—screaming chaos of the moment, tantrums
can be downright frustrating. But instead of looking at them as catastrophes,
treat tantrums as opportunities for education.
Why Do Kids Have Tantrums?
Imagine how it feels when you’re determined to program your DVD player
and aren’t able to do it, no matter how hard you try, because you can’t
understand how. It’s pretty frustrating — do you swear, throw the
manual, walk away, and slam the door on your way out? That’s the adult
version of a tantrum. Toddlers are also trying to master the world and when
they aren’t able to accomplish a task, they often use one of the only
tools at their disposal for venting frustration — a tantrum.
|
|
|
