Types of tantrums:

I have tried to group types of tantrums, every child throws tantrums although most children differ in how the tantrum is carried out. Tantrums are a great way for parents to teach their children social skills and how to deal with underlying emotions including disappointment, rage, frustration or fear.

We know the “demonstrative” tantrum. The “give me what I want” tantrum that peaks at times when a child cannot get what they want. As children get older this tantrum may also include a threat of a tantrum, “give it to me or else...”.

The “helpless” tantrum this is less common but a tantrum nonetheless, children who “cry” in the hopes that a parent will do something for them or ‘rescue’ them, “I can’t do it myself”. It is not helping the child to rescue them or assist them everytime they give up. An example may be when they have misplaced something, perhaps a toy, a shoe, and when nobody wants to help them look for it, they cry and cry.

The “silent” tantrum, the child who intentionally sulks or stays away from you when things don’t go his/her way. This child may internalise what they feel and although it is a quiet tantrum and may go largely unnoticed it is important to follow up and ‘check-in’ with your child or discuss the issue later on when he/she is comfortable to talk.