The mother reports frequent temper tantrums in a toddler. The nurse should advise to:

• A. Ignore the behavior
• B. Provide constant attention during the tantrum
• C. Punish immediately after tantrums
• D. Yell to stop the tantrums

Answer: (A)

Tantrums are a normal part of toddler development as children test boundaries and learn to communicate. They’re often a way to seek attention, so the most effective approach is to avoid reinforcing the behavior. Ignoring non-harmful tantrums helps teach that such outbursts don’t get the desired response, and over time the frequency tends to decrease. In the meantime, stay calm and safe, redirect the child to a more appropriate activity, and provide attention for positive behaviors when the child is calm or communicates effectively. Ensure basic needs are met (sleep, hunger, comfort) and offer praise after a tantrum for calm, cooperative behavior.

Why the other options aren’t as helpful: giving constant attention during a tantrum reinforces the behavior by teaching the child that yelling will bring a response; punishing after the fact can create fear and doesn’t teach the child how to change the behavior; yelling during the episode escalates the arousal and makes the tantrum worse.