Dealing with tantrums
Published December 20, 2011 The Gleaner Positive Parenting There are degrees and variation in which a child expresses emotions, happiness and sadness alike. But when the crying becomes uncontrollable, without provocation, the reasons could be much more than meet the eye. It is normal for the children to cry but sometime this can become habit forming or if the child resorts to tantrum throwing, it can possibly lead to frustration and meltdown. “There are levels of crying, and it might be physical expression of frustration,” says Dr Pauline Milbourn, paediatric psychiatrist, former director of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in the Ministry of Health. Photo: stock.xchng A child may throw tantrums for many reasons, from the need and want to acquire something to sickness. “The child could be having fever, headache or an upset stomach that can trigger tantrums,” Dr Milbourn says. “This behaviour could be out of hunger or overtiredne...