Most people have witnessed a child's temper tantrum - the sudden explosion that appears out of all proportion to the event that triggered it. For the parent or carer, tantrums can be alarming, frustrating and, when they occur in public, excruciatingly embarrassing. Dealing with them is a big challenge, so it helps to understand why a child might fling himself down screaming in rage because his biscuit has broken or he has been told to wear his coat.
Tantrums start at around the age of 18 months as a child is becoming more aware of himself as a separate being. He wants to assert himself and have some control over his life. Instead, he meets more restrictions as he explores his world more actively. He reacts to being thwarted dramatically because he is not yet able to express his anger and frustration verbally - he is overwhelmed by his feelings and they burst out of him.
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