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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
3 yr Old can't control temper
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
3 yr Old can't control temper
by cmcadams, Apr 04, 2002 12:00AM
I have a 3 year old son, who sometimes is COMPLETLY out of control. I have talked with the pediatrician when he was 2 about the same problems, they said it is normal behavior and to buy a book. Well the books aren't working. He continues to get more out of control and violent. If we try to displine it has no effect on him at all. He really does not care. He screams at the top of his lungs turns bright red, kicks sreams hits bites. My husband and I have tried to restrain him to sit him in time out between our legs and he bites. I do not know what to do any more. He continues to get worse and I don't want him to go through life and not know how to control his temper. I can't even explain how out of control he is. I have thought about taking video of him to the doctor, but not sure what to say is even wrong with him. Please help is there something wrong? Is this normal behavior for a 3 year old? What do I need to do so that my son learns to control and manage his temper?
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Apr 04, 2002 12:00AM
, Apr 04, 2002 12:00AM
Of course, without evaluating your son, it's impossible to tell if what he demonstrates is a serious, but normal spectrum child behavior problem, or the symptoms of a mental or emotional disorder (e.g., mood disorder). Regardless, it'll be imprtant to employ a systematic plan for managing the behavior - this would apply across the board. The implication of a mood disorder, for example, would be in relation to the use of some medication, in addition to managing the behavior. Children of this age typically have a hard time having limits set on their behavior, and they quickly become flooded with frustration and rage, and this results in tantrums. You can achieve a diagnosis of the problem, and a plan for managing the behavior, via consultation with a pediatric mental health professional. This would be a prudent step to take. Re: the behavior itself, many books about child rearing are not particularly useful because they tend to be overly general or theoretical. A sound approach to managing behavior is described in Lynn Clark's SOS: Help for Parents (published by Parents Press in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
