Children use acting out to substitute for skill deficits. They act out when they don’t see any other way to solve problems or gain power, or both! And when they learn that their acting out works…the bigger the problem, the bigger the tantrum.
For these reasons parents should never reinforce bad behavior by giving in. But, at the same time, they must work to “teach” their child a better way to deal with frustrations.
Life is nothing more than a succession of problems. That’s why problem solving skills are among the most important things a person can possess.
When we teach our children good problem solving skills we are giving them the tools to transform their lives.