My five-year-old is still having occasional tantrums, and I’m worried about kindergarten in the fall. But I don’t want to go to a doctor if this is just normal behavior — is it?
Most sources say tantrums should be rare after age four.
Evans Army Community Hospital has some advice on handling tantrums here, and also recommends calling your doctor if:
- your child hurts himself or others during tantrums
- they happen five or more times a day
- they continue in school
- your child has other behavior problems
- one parent has “tantrums or screaming bouts” and can’t stop
- the approach recommended by Evans doesn’t help within two weeks
- you have any other concerns
This should help you decide.