Difficult child behaviors:
What is it?
- Screaming and being hard to calm is a sign that a child’s emotions get too big, too fast for them to handle.
- These behaviors are also called temper tantrums or melt-downs. They are hard on everybody, children and parents alike.
Where do they get this from?
- Many parts of temperament can lead to screaming. Some children are sensitive to sound, temperature, taste, or movement. Some children have really big reactions that are hard to control.
- Children who have experienced stress or traumatic events also can get overwhelmed quickly and have a hard time controlling their emotions.
- Many children have a hard time controlling their emotions when they are tired, hungry, or not feeling well.
- Children might get a lot of attention and control from this behavior, as parents rush in to try to quiet them down. As parents find themselves doing whatever they can to avoid a tantrum, children may learn that tantrums are a good way to get what they want.
