Crying, kicking, hitting, and breath-holding are common symptoms of tantrums in 3-year-olds. Sometimes, the child screams without any reason and harms himself. This is all due to frustration and an inability to communicate clearly. At the 3-year stage, kids don’t always have the words to express their feelings.
So, they may show anxiety with big emotions. In this condition, parents are unsure how to cope and feel helpless. It’s important to understand the reason why tantrums happen. In this article, you’ll explore the reasons behind screaming 3-year-olds and how to deal with 3-year-old tantrums.
So, keep reading to explore more!
Understanding 3-Year-Old Tantrums
A tantrum is a condition where the child gets very upset and can’t control their feelings or anger. They might scream at their parents, cry, or even hit themself. Tantrums happen when a child feels frustrated, angry, or overwhelmed. They don’t know how to express their emotions in other ways. This is common for 3-year-old tantrums at bedtime, and parents should learn to handle big feelings.
Common signs or symptoms of tantrums:
- Crying or screaming
- Kicking or stomping
- Hitting or throwing things
- Breath-holding and rolling on the floor
- Clenching fists
- Shouting or yelling and refusing to listen to anything
- Flailing arms and legs
Common Reasons Behind 3-Year-Old Tantrums
There are a lot of reasons behind the appearance of 3-year-old boy tantrum symptoms. Here are the common ones among them.
Emotional and Cognitive Developmental Changes
At age 3, children are learning a lot about new things and the world. They are becoming more independent, like in walking and running. However, they still need help understanding and controlling their feelings.
This is a big part of why tantrums happen. When a child feels strongly, they don’t always know how to express it. They may feel sad but not have the words to show those feelings or emotions. Their brand still manages to control emotion. This is why tantrums are common at this age.
Physical Factors Triggering Tantrums
Sometimes, physical factors can develop 3-year-old anger issues. Things like hunger, fatigue, or discomfort trigger the children to scream. It’s harder for a child to control their emotions. If a child is hungry, they may feel upset. This can easily lead to a tantrum.
A tired child might also get frustrated more easily. These physical factors can be hard to see. However, they are the main factor that develops tantrums. It’s important for parents to pay attention to when their child feels hungry, tired, and is yelling.
External and Environmental Stressors
The environment also affected the extreme tantrums in 4-year-olds.
Children are also affected by their environment. Changes in surroundings can make children feel anxious or uncomfortable. If a child is used to going to the park every day and then suddenly stays home, this change can cause stress.
When things change suddenly, they might feel scared or confused. This condition leads to tantrums. Exposure to new social situations can also cause stress. So, small changes in the environment can make a big impact on children’s behavior.
Unmet Needs and Control Struggles
The age 3 children are in a growth stage and still need a lot of things that are not fully met. They don’t yet have the skills to make many decisions. This can lead to power struggles and tantrums. Furthermore, the desire for control is strong at this age.
A 3-year-old is capable of deciding when to leave the park. If a parent says no, it can cause 3-year-old boy tantrums to develop. This is a normal part of their development. When parents don’t understand the unmet feelings or needs of children; it can lead to big emotional reactions like tantrums.
5 Practical Ways to Handle 3-Year-Old Tantrums Effectively
To cope with 3-year-old tantrums at bedtime, it’s important to follow the 5 practical ways.
1. Stay Calm and Composed
When your 3-year-old child is having a tantrum, staying calm is important. Kids can easily pick up on your emotions. If you stay calm, it can help them feel safe.
If you get upset or angry, it might make the situation more aggravating. Parents should take a deep breath and try to stay composed. Their calmness can help your child calm down too. This can teach your children that emotions don’t always need to be loud. You can also set this as a daily routine for a mother to handle strong feelings of a child.
2. Acknowledge Your Child’s Emotions
All children demand that their parents understand their feelings. When your child is upset, it’s helpful to acknowledge how they feel. You can say things like, “I see you’re really angry right now.”
These words show that you understand their feelings. By doing this, your child learns that it’s okay to feel upset. They will start to trust that you are always with them. It also helps them learn how to express their feelings in words.
3. Provide Distractions and Redirection
The best way to handle a screaming 3-year-old is to change the surroundings or provide distractions. When your child is upset, you, as a good mother, can distract them by providing something. It could be a favorite game, a song, or even a fun activity like a game.
When you redirect their attention, they forget their feeling of sadness or upset. This method helps the children to change their mood. They also learn something new to focus on. It can be a quick way to stop the tantrum.
4. Set Clear and Consistent Boundaries
At the age of 3, children need rules or discipline to feel secure. You should set clear and consistent discipline with your children. It helps your child understand what is okay and what isn’t. If you say “no” to something, it should be the same each time.
Being consistent helps your child know what to expect. It reduces the risk of developing frustration in children. You don’t have to be overly strict. However, it’s important to stick to the rules.
5. Create a Calm-Down Routine
A peaceful environment also develops the feeling of security among the children. It also helps the children to learn how to handle their emotions. This can include things like taking deep breaths, counting to ten, or finding a quiet space.
You can teach them a simple way to calm down when they are upset. When your 3-year-old throws things when angry, gently remind them to take a deep breath. Over time, they will start using these techniques on their own. This routine helps them feel in control of their emotions.
When to Seek Help: Is It Time to Consult a Professional?
You can cope with the children’s condition when they express anger and frustration. If the tantrums get worse over time, it might be time to talk to a professional.
If a child seems too intense or lasts too long, it’s good to check with a pediatrician. If the tantrums start to affect school and daily life, a therapist could help. They can help figure out how the child is dealing with something like anxiety.
It’s also important to seek help if a child’s hurting themself. Early support can help kids learn better ways to cope with tantrums. Parents should trust the professional guidance and ask for help.
Speaking with a professional can make a big difference in finding the right support.
FAQS
Why is my 3-year-old so angry?
There are a lot of factors that develop the feeling of anger in children. Frustration, limited communication skills, and anger are common among them. It’s important to learn tricks like distraction to handle tantrums in children.
How do you discipline a 3-year-old temper tantrum?
To discipline a 3-year-old tantrum child, you should make rules and set clear boundaries. It’s important to cope with the reason behind this situation. You can ask your child to take a deep breath and speak softly to calm down the child.
What is a red flag behavior for a 3-year-old?
Hyperactivity, like worse anger and hurting themselves, is the red flag movement in children that needs some professional help. If your children constantly move beyond regular playing, you need to address it with pediatrics.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, 3-year-old tantrums are all about feeling frustrated, aggression, and sadness. It’s important for you to know how to handle tantrums. If you ignore these signs, your children’s condition will become worse. In the future, they may develop more aggressive behaviors and hurt themselves.
So, we discussed the tried and tested way on how to deal with 3-year-old tantrums. It’s best to keep your child calm and provide a place where you can communicate their feelings openly. The communication gap between children and parents develops some other complications.
Keep your home environment full of peace, love, and affection. If you feel helpless, you may consult with professionals and discuss the behavior of your children. They may provide you with a valid solution that is comfortable for both you and your child.