Paul, age 3, has frequent temper tantrums. What would be best practice for understanding the behavior?

• A. Make observations about the situations Paul is in at the times of his tantrums to find the cause.
• B. Provide immediate consolation every time and then scold him.
• C. Ignore the tantrums and hope they stop.
• D. Try to distract him with a screen and ignore the behavior.

Answer: (A)

Understanding why a young child has frequent temper tantrums comes from looking closely at what happens before, during, and after each episode. Making careful observations of the situations Paul is in at tantrum times helps you identify triggers and patterns—things like hunger, fatigue, transitions, overstimulation, or specific people present. This information lets you form a plausible explanation for the behavior and plan how to respond in a way that reduces tantrums and supports the child’s needs. With this approach, you can build predictable routines, teach calm-down strategies, and respond consistently in ways that address the underlying cause rather than just reacting to the immediate outburst.

Choosing to console and then scold can send mixed messages and may reinforce the behavior by giving attention after a tantrum. Ignoring the tantrums or using screens to distract without addressing triggers can miss important signals about what the child needs and may not reduce the frequency over time.