
They are a sign that a child is becoming more independent - indications that a child is testing boundaries, developing skills and opinions, and exploring the world around them.īut when a child is acting out a lot, it can strain the parent-child relationship, creating regular frustration and resentment that isn’t healthy in the family. Tantrums and other kinds of acting out are often a normal and even healthy part of childhood. You also might notice that your child acts out particularly when she is at home but not when she is at school, or vice versa. You may notice patterns of behavior that seem to crop up at certain times of the day (like bedtime) during certain tasks (like during homework) or with certain people. They may be defiant, or ignore instructions or try to talk their way out of things that aren’t optional. Other children may seem to struggle more with boundaries and following rules.

Communicating wishes and needs to adults.

Handling big emotions in a healthy, mature way requires a variety of skills, including: When children have frequent emotional outbursts, it can be a sign that they haven’t yet developed the skills they need to cope with feelings like frustration, anxiety and anger.
