Topic Overview

Your doctor may ask you to keep a record of your child’s temper tantrums before you bring your child in for a physical exam. It’s a good idea to include the following information.

• How often does your child have tantrums?
• What usually leads up to your child having a temper tantrum?
• Does your child have temper tantrums more often around certain people?
• Where do your child’s tantrums usually occur? Do they ever occur at school?
• What does your child do during a temper tantrum? How intense is the behavior?
• How long does a tantrum last?
• What do you do during a tantrum? How do you feel when your child is having a temper tantrum?
• Do you give in to your child after a tantrum? Do you ever punish your child for having a tantrum?
• How do your child’s temper tantrums affect the family?

These answers can help your doctor get a clearer picture of what motivates your child and how your child behaves. They may also reveal patterns, such as what triggers the tantrums. This information can help a doctor learn more about your family and advise you on how to manage your child’s behavior.

Your doctor may recommend further exams or tests if your child often has temper tantrums that last longer than 15 minutes or occur more than 3 times a day.