The Truth about Tantrums: 8 Things You Should Know

Ever notice how hard it is to have a discussion when you're really upset? It's even more true for your youngster. "During a tantrum, your child is in a very raw state. It's just not time to begin to reason or argue," says Kratz. Instead, she recommends describing your child's feelings to help him or her find the language to express emotions. An example might be: "You seem very angry about having to leave the playground."

You can also teach children to think about how their emotions affect others by describing your own feelings: "I get frustrated when you act like this."