Temper tantrums are a common and expected occurrence in normal childhood development. Temper tantrums consist of disruptive behaviors in a child including: crying, yelling, hitting, throwing, whining, and other intense and emotional behaviors often occurring because the child is not obtaining their desired goal.
Temper tantrums are typically thought of as occurring in younger children (age 2-5), but can and do occur in children upwards to the age of 12.
When temper tantrums become uncomfortably intense, unusually frequent and/or do not show signs of dissipating they may be the precursor to more serious problems with opposition, self-regulation, and behavior control. Temper tantrums may simply be related to well-intentioned parenting techniques that are not working.
The Children's Wisconsin's Craig Yabuki Mental Health Center can assist in the evaluation and treatment of children with temper tantrums and work with the parents and child to develop a sound foundation for parent interventions and positive child behavior.
