Temper Tantrums: Symptoms
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Symptoms
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.
Although breath-holding alone is not a sign of a health or behavioral problem, it may need evaluation if it occurs with other more violent symptoms.
| Last updated: | November 20, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Debby Golonka, MPH |
| Reviewed By: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC |
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