A temper tantrum is an unplanned, unintentional expression of
anger or other emotions. During a temper tantrum, a person may have an outburst of crying,
yelling, and flailing of arms and legs.
Temper tantrums usually are most intense during the first 30
seconds. They last 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
People do not have temper tantrums to get attention. Rather, a
tantrum is usually a response to extreme frustration. Although temper tantrums
can occur at any age, even during adulthood, they are most common in children
ages 1 to 4 years.
As children grow older, they learn healthier ways to handle their
emotions. Children who continue to have tantrums after the age of 4 usually need
help learning to deal with their emotions.