Stomping, kicking, biting, scratching, pinching, screaming and throwing are all characteristics of a two-year-old's temper tantrum. All toddlers are prone to uncontrollable outbursts at this age, so your toddler is not purposely acting out to make you angry. There are several steps you can take during tantrums.
Reason
A toddler's brain is still developing, so they're unable to control impulses, which results in a fit of rage over minor occurrences. Two-year-olds mainly throw temper tantrums because of frustration. Toddlers have a limited vocabulary and the vocabulary they do know is not always easy to understand, which can add to the frustration. In addition, toddlers are always testing their limits as they learn about the world around them, so it makes them angry when restrictions are placed on their actions and curiosities. Your toddler may also be expressing hunger, thirst and boredom through means of a tantrum, but these are only a few possible causes of a tantrum. Tantrums are your two-year-olds only way to deal with emotional impulses.
Response
Tantrums come with being a two-year-old, so no amount of punishment will stop a tantrum. In fact, if you yell or show anger, the tantrum is likely to get worse. No matter how bad the scene gets, you can never give in to your child's demands. Ignore the tantrum as much as possible, but if it escalates, remove your child from the situation that is causing his frustration. Wait for your child to calm down, but if this doesn't happen, take your child home. A time out can help your child calm down. You can also pick your child up in order to help him relax. Once the tantrum is over, talk to your toddler about what happened.
Avoid
Do not yell, threaten or walk away from your toddler during a temper tantrum. No matter how frustrated you get from your toddler's tantrum, never resort to hitting. Walking out of the room can make your toddler feel abandoned and worsen their emotional outburst. The overwhelming emotions that come with a tantrum can be frightening to your toddler, so it's important he knows you're there for him during the tantrum. Avoid tantrum triggers, such as going near the toy aisle of a store or running errands when your toddler will be hungry or tired.
Considerations
Give your child choices as often as possible and give praise for choices. Let your toddler choose the type of veggie he wants for super or choose the shirt he wants to wear to daycare. Ease up on the amount of times you say no to your toddler by picking your battles. Toddlers should have a large amount of emotions from very happy to raging, but if your toddler tends to be throwing tantrums most of the time or is persistently sad, consult your pediatrician since there may be an underlying problem.
