Tantrums are common when toddlers are not allowed or unable to do things on their own. To deal with tantrums:

• Remain calm, do not scream or have an adult tantrum.
• Avoid spanking because it shows that you are out of control.
• The best approach to eliminate attention-seeking behavior is to ignore it. Don’t give into your child’s demands.
• If your child refuses something important, such as going to bed, ignore it for a few minutes, then physically move him.
• If the tantrum is too disruptive to ignore, such as hitting or throwing things or it occurs in a public place, use time-out.
• If your child is totally out of control or may hurt himself, try holding him for about one to three minutes until he starts to relax, then let him go.