• Visit the Discovery Science Center–Santa Ana (www.discoverycube.org)
• Visit Aquarium of the Pacific–Long Beach (www.aquariumofthepacific.org)
• Have a tea party at Teddy Bears & Tea Cups–Balboa Island
• Decorate ceramics at Color Me Mine (for locations visit www.colormemine.com)
• Release some energy at The Little Gym
• Catch a children’s theater matinee
• Go to a movie
• Visit your local library and check out the latest works by children’s authors
• Bake cookies and decorate them at home
• Make homemade pizza for dinner

Has your child ever had a complete meltdown in a public place that involved crying, kicking, blood-curdling screams and writhing on the floor? If so, take heart – you are not alone. Many parents would rather remove themselves mentally and physically from the moment than endure the humiliation and embarrassment that comes with a toddler’s public meltdown. However, many parents are learning how to better handle and (eventually) prevent these unfortunate occurrences by not viewing their child’s outbursts as a disaster but, rather, taking time to build parent-child communication. Parents can achieve this by taking a few moments during a temper tantrum to empathize with their child’s emotions while at the same time learn some important coping skills along the way.

What is a Temper Tantrum?
A temper tantrum is an unplanned expression of anger or frustration, often
with physical and verbal outbursts. During a temper tantrum, a child will
typically cry, yell, stomp her feet, and flail her arms and legs. A tantrum
usually lasts from 30 seconds to several minutes.

Temper tantrums are common in both boys and girls, and usually occur from
ages 1-3 years. They can occur daily in some children, and infrequently in
others. Whichever the case may be, temper tantrums are a normal part of
development for children. Temper tantrums occur in about 80 percent of children between the ages of 1 and 4. About 20% of 2-year-olds and 10% of 4-year-olds have daily temper tantrums. (1)

Why Do Children Have Temper Tantrums?
A temper tantrum is a child’s way of expressing his negative emotions before
he is able to voice them through verbal means. A child’s understanding of
language far outstrips his ability to communicate verbally, and
subsequently, his frustrations and anger are often manifested through temper
tantrums.

In other words, a temper tantrum is a child’s way of saying “I’m angry and
frustrated!” And though we may feel like this too, children don’t have the
same inhibitions or learned controlled behavior as we do.

Preventing Temper Tantrums
Temper tantrums may occur without warning, however, parents can often tell when a child is becoming upset. Try to recognize situations where tantrums are more likely to occur, and plan accordingly. For example, adhere to routine meals and nap times (i.e. avoid having a tired and hungry child by prolonging his/her normal schedule). Avoid long outings without appropriate “play time” (i.e on long road trips, plan on longer rest stops for your child). Know your child’s limits. (i.e. if your child is tired, don’t try to squeeze in that extra errand). Help your child avoid frustrating situations (i.e. don’t take your child down the candy aisle unless you plan on purchasing candy for him/her). Be consistent about your rules and expectations

Helping Your Child Work Through a Temper Tantrum
The most important thing to remember during a temper tantrum is to keep your
cool. If you become frustrated and angry, emotions will continue to
escalate for both parties involved. Instead, take deep breaths, keep your
perspective, and stay calm. Tell your child in a calm voice that you understand his/her frustration but you cannot listen to this type of behavior and walk away from the situation. Continue your activities without paying attention to your child, but
remaining within sight. Try not to cave into his demands. When parents
give in, children learn to use inappropriate behavior to get their way.

Children who are in danger of hurting themselves or others during a tantrum
should be taken to a quiet safe place to calm down. This also applies to
tantrums in public places. In older children, time-outs can be useful in
these situations.

As children become more mature in understanding their emotions and better
equipped to express themselves, temper tantrums become fewer and farther
between. Remember that this is a stage that will eventually pass, and with
the above tips, should become more manageable if not more bearable.

However, talk to your health professional if your child continues to have
frequent temper tantrums after 4 years of age, if her tantrums escalate into
violent behavior that result in injuries to herself or others, or if you
have difficulty handling your child’s behavior.

1. Stein MT (2003). Difficult behavior: Temper tantrums to conduct disorders. In CD Rudolph et al., eds., Rudolph’s Pediatrics, 21st ed., pp. 444–450. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Welcome to COASTAL KIDS’ Starfish Newsletter! Each quarter Starfish Newsletter will feature articles written by COASTAL KIDS’ highly-regarded team of pediatricians as well as doctors’ tips on diet and nutrition, sleep and naptime, potty training and temper tantrums, among other important topics that concern today’s parents. Each quarter our newsletter will feature a Q&A, highlighting a local children’s retailer as well as a TOP 10 List featuring our medical team’s favorite family-friendly activities and dining experiences, including children’s bookstores, local parks and child-friendly activities for parents, among other general interests.

We hope you find Starfish Newsletter a valuable resource in your day-to-day activities and lifestyle–from our family to yours!

Sincerely,

Coastal Kids Pediatric Medical Group

Your Child and Temper Tantrums
By Sandy Oak Lee

TOP 10 Favorite Rainy Day Pastimes

Congratulations! Having a baby is one of the most rewarding experiences in your lives. We are committed to helping you care for your child – keeping your baby happy and healthy.

We encourage new parents to schedule a prenatal visit. This visit allows expectant parents to become acquainted with us, tour our office, and ask questions regarding the birth of your baby.

Please Note: You do not need to “register” with our office before your baby is born. If you would like one of the physicians at Coastal Kids to be your baby’s doctor, simply tell your obstetrician and the hospital staff when you arrive at the hospital to give birth. The hospital will notify our office when your baby is born. One of our pediatricians will be in to see you and your baby when they do hospital rounds that morning.

Hospital Affiliations:
We are affiliated with the following hospitals:

-Hoag Memorial – www.hoaghospital.org
-Choc at Mission – www.choc.org/mission/index.cfm?id=P00283
-Saddleback Hospital – www.memorialcare.com/saddleback/about.cfm

Coastal Kids, a premier pediatrics group with three convenient locations – in Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel and Ladera Ranch – offers the best quality healthcare to OC families with it’s team of highly trained physicians and wide-ranging services. Coastal Kids is open 7 Days a week and caters to stay-at-home parents to working professionals with families. Our staff is available 24 hours a day and extended office hours and weekend visits are available to patients who need immediate medical attention.

As a result of Coastal Kids’ proactive planning, coastal kids anticipated a significant outbreak of novel Influenza A (H1N1) and prepared to care for it’s patients during this season. One of the most significant steps was to obtain and administer sufficient amounts of the vaccine to prevent the illness from affecting the patients and their families.

As a result, Coastal Kids was one of the first medical practices to receive and administer the different types of the H1N1 vaccine. In addition, Coastal Kids has opened it’s practice to non-patients who fit the high-risk CDC criteria that require the vaccine.

The current CDC criteria include but are not limited to the following groups:

1) persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old
2) pregnant woman
3) people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
4) healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
5) people of ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at a higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

For a full detailed review if the high risk criteria please refer to the CDC website at www.CDC.gov/H1N1/

To schedule an appointment to receive the H1N1 vaccine please call Coastal Kids at 949 7591720