2 year olds random rages

[gmommy2011]

My son is an only child and just turned 2 in January.  he has always given me a hard time h went through a biting phase which he still does, hits when we tell him no and a screaming phase.  Now all of a sudden he will go into a weird rage where he breaths heavy or almost like a runner would and he runs back and forth throwing his body on floor, rolling around and grabbing things around him and taking them down or throwing them (blankets, small toys, even my storage bins).  When he does this I tell him hes not being safe and I try to hold him and hug him but he pushes off and continues.  We do give him "breaks" in his crib where he will yell and scream we give him two minutes and then we hug and talk about what happened.  I am just so concerned with this all my family and friends have said something and its to the point now where we dont go on playdates because im embarrassed.

[gmommy2011]

the only reason i say random is because it could be during a story when we are snuggled up on the chair and he will get down and start throwing books and opening and closing door.  It doesnt happen while hes mad at me or something else, hes usually laughing or very serious like he is concentrating on making a mess

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

I should have added that the episodes are not random, as the title of your post suggests. The episodes occur when your child is frustrated about something. The tantrums may appear random to you, but they are not.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

These are normal two-year-old tantrums. As long as he is not being destructive, let it go and don't try to intervene. There is no point when he is in such a state of heightened emotion. And you would do well to stop embracing him after such episodes. There is no reason for doing that and, unwittingly, you will reinforce the behavior because you are pairing it with affection. Just let the storm die down and get on with whatever is ocurring. Am I suggesting ignoring it? Yes, pretty much.