These are commonest between 18 months and 3 year olds where approximately 10% may have at least one temper tantrum per week. They are more commonly seen in boys and in households with a single mother or ineffectual father.
Tantrums are an uncontrolled response to a frustrating situation. If the parents of a child give in to a tantrum then temper tantrums become a learned response.
Management: if a child is having a tantrum the parents should sit or stand near to the child but not intervene until the tantrum has finished. A child may be placed in a room without toys until he has calmed down. Parents should not try and bribe a child with sweets etc to end a tantrum because that will just serve to reinforce that particular behaviour pattern. If a child is in danger of harming himself or others then he should be gently restrained.
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