Temper Tantrums
Temper tantrum are a common toddler response to anger and frustration and often result from thwarted attempts at mastery and autonomy. Tantrums may also occur as an emotional release of tension after a long, tiring day. Unable to express anger in more productive ways because of limited language and reasoning abilities , toddlers may react by screaming, kicking, throwing things, or even biting themselves or banging their heads. Tantrums occur more often when toddlers are tired, hungry, bored, or excessively stimulated.
The nurse can help parents by identifying strategies to decrease the frequency of tantrums. Limiting situations that are too much for the child to handle is helpful. Anticipating periods of fatigue, having a snack ready before the child gets too hungry, and offering the toddles choices when possible can minimize temper tantrums. Parental practices such as inconsistency, permissiveness, excessive strictness, and overprotectiveness increase the probability of tantrums.
Toddlers need appropriate and consistent limits. Letting the child know that temper tantrums will not be tolerated gives the child a sense of security. The intensity of a toddler’s outburst almost seems to be a plea for someone to stop the behavior. Probably the most effective method for handing tantrums is to isolate safety and ignore the child. The child should learn that nothing is gained from a tantrum, not even attention. Giving in to the child’s demands or scolding the child only increase the behavior. Toddlers stop using tantrums when they do not achieve their goals and as their verbal skills increase: Once the tantrum has subsided and the toddles has regained some self-control, the parent should comfort and let the child know that limits are necessary and that the child is loved. Acknowledging the child’s angry feeling and rewarding more mature ways of expressing them assist the child in gaining self-control.