Temper tantrums are emotional outbursts generally displayed by children during early childhood, between the ages of 1 and 4 years. They are considered a normal, healthy part of child development.

During a temper tantrum, children may engage in behaviors such as screaming, shouting, hitting and kicking.

Some children have temper tantrums regularly, whereas others rarely experience them. The frequency of tantrums is related to the individual temperament of the child. Temper tantrums affect boys and girls equally.

Many people mistakenly believe that temper tantrums are caused by poor parenting skills. However, they typically stem from a combination of factors, including immediate circumstances, the child’s age, communication skills, temperament and developmentally healthy behavior.

Parents and caregivers can handle temper tantrums by distracting the child, removing the child from the situation, ignoring the child or holding the child.