Some children at the age of 2-3 can throw a mean tantrum; a tantrum is an emotional outburst that is characterized by crying, screaming, angry ranting and sometimes hitting. Tantrums can occur when the toddler is bored, frustrated, hot, and cold or feeling anxious. Sometimes, they just cannot cope with their angry feelings. It is often possible to avoid confrontations, but if these do take place, toddlers are usually quite amenable to diversions. Some feelings are so strong and overpowering that you just have to wait until the storm has passed.