By Carol Church, Writer, Family Album
Reviewed by David Diehl, PhD, Department of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences, University of Florida
My husband and I recently amused our school-aged children by telling them stories about some “famous” tantrums they had when they were little. In one case, I had to carry my daughter all the way down a very long pier at a huge outdoor seafood restaurant while she screamed and kicked. Ah…memories!
Some Tantrums are Typical
It can be hard being a toddler. There’s so much to learn about, process, and experience, and sometimes things really don’t go the way you want them to! Children this age also may have a tough time expressing their needs verbally.
As a result, we generally expect that toddlers will have occasional tantrums (brief outbursts of uncontrolled crying, screaming, and so on). These behaviors tend to be more frequent when children are tired or hungry. For many, they continue into the preschool years, perhaps up to age 5.
However, tantrums can also be exhausting and difficult, especially if they are frequent or very lengthy. Some parents may wonder whether their child’s tantrums could be outside the norm or a sign of a behavioral problem.
Survey of 1000+ Parents
A 2012 study in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry made an effort to cast some light on this question. Researchers surveyed almost 1500 parents of preschoolers between the ages of 3 and 5, asking them how often their children had tantrums, what these tantrums were about, how long they lasted, and what the children did during them.
Certain Behaviors Were Atypical
Most parents did indeed report that their child had thrown a tantrum at least once in the past month. However, less than 10% had daily tantrums, suggesting such frequency is not the norm. Other less common and more concerning behaviors included tantrums lasting more than five minutes, tantrums for no apparent reason, being physically aggressive or destructive during a tantrum, and having tantrums with adults other than parents. Children with frequent tantrums also often had other behavioral issues, such as aggression or anxiety.
While these findings are preliminary, researchers plan to use them to develop screening tools that can help parents decide whether their preschooler’s tantrums are par for the course, or cause for concern.
Concerned? Talk to Your Doctor
Although these findings may offer clues, they certainly don’t replace the judgement of a professional. If you have concerns about your child’s tantrums or anger, speak to your pediatrician. Early identification of emotional and behavioral problems can go a long way toward helping young children who are struggling to cope with their feelings and behaviors.
Further Reading
Let’s Talk About Temper Tantrums–UF-IFAS EDIS
Children’s Anger and Tantrums–Colorado State Extension
Temper tantrums in toddlers: How to keep the peace
References:
Wakschlag, L. S., Choi, S. W., Carter, A. S., Hullsiek, H., Burns, J., McCarthy, K., Leibenluft, E., & Briggs-Gowan, M. J. (2012). Defining the developmental parameters of temper loss in early childhood: Implications for developmental psychopathology. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 53(11), 1099-1108. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02595.x
Photo Credits: arnoaltix/iStock/Thinkstock
(Originally published in a slightly different form as: Church, C. (2012). When are tantrums in preschoolers a problem? [Radio broadcast episode]. Family Album Radio. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida.)
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