5 year old screams cries and hits for over an hour

[momofoliviaandsophia]

Hi ,
My daughter will be 5 in 3 weeks and in the last month or so has begun throwing extreme temper tantrums.  These tantrums include kicking, hitting and crying uncontrolably for over an hour sometimes.  We have tried holding her so she won't hit, talking to her, we even got desperate enough to spank which did not work at all.  Nothing works.  Currently we have cleaned everything out of her room except her furniture (so she has nothing to throw) and when a tantrum hits we put her in her room and tell her she can come out when she is ready to act like a big girl.  We have to hold the door so she does not comeout and as I mentioned this can last for over an hour.  Is this normal and do you have any ideas for working through these.  This is the first real behavioral issue we have had with her.  gennerally she is well behaved and does great in school.

[mikiegirlmarine]

I have the same problem with my daughter.  She can spend up to 3 hours screaming, kicking, pulling on me.  I've tried time out -- she won't stay.  I've tried putting her in her room, she comes out.  I've tried locking myself in a room b/c the behavior makes me so crazy that I lose control of my temper.  But she comes and beats on my door and screams at my door.  She didn't learn this behavior from anyplace, she has always been this way and it has gotten progressively worse,  Now it is intolerable. I have an older child who has Aspergers who moved in with his father b/c he couldn't tolerate the constant chaos that she causes.  Our whole family is constantly walking on eggshells.  I don't know what to do.  Any suggestions?

[supermomma531]

Hi,
First of all, I would have to ask where did she pick this type of behavior up from if she has never been like this before? From a friends house? From day care or school? From family like cousins? Can you think back to when this started and pin point where she could have picked it up from? I believe what you are doing with putting her to her room is the best situation possible. This should also be followed by a conversation with her about her behavior and what is acceptable verses not acceptable. Eventually she will get it. Persistence will pay.