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Temper Tantrums
Usually, temper tantrums last 30 seconds to 2 minutes and are most intense during the first 30 seconds. During a tantrum, a child may:
- Cry, scream, or shout.
- Arch the back or tense the body.
- Flail the arms.
Temper tantrums are most likely to occur when a child is afraid, overtired, or uncomfortable. Breath-holding spells may sometimes occur with tantrums.
Difficult behavior that frequently lasts longer than 15 minutes, occurs more than 3 times a day, or is more aggressive may indicate that a child has a medical, emotional, or social problem that needs attention. These are not considered typical temper tantrums. Difficult behaviors may include:
- Kicking, hitting, biting, scratching, hair pulling, or pinching other people.
- Throwing or breaking things.
- Head-banging or inflicting self-injury.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: November 4, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics | |
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