My 7 yrs old son throws fits when disappointed..?

Question

I have only seen this outburst 2 times over aprox. a 2 month period. Recently moved to a new school dist. and home.

Eg. After school today, there was 5 inches of fresh snow, so my little guy took his toboggan, and tried to sleigh, after several attempts on his own, I offered to push him on the trail, but he only got half way down the hill. He shouted out 'BORING', slammed his fists in the snow and pulled off his hat and tossed it into the snow. I stood there in shock & disbelief. The best I could come up with... 'we could try again'. He just shouted in Anger & Disappointment. "NO!" I suggested he put on his hat & hood and could make some snow angels. Success!! He was now proud of his accomplishment. (wow... what just happened I thought to myself.)

The previous & 1st time fit was over loosing a boardgame, I did not give it much thought at the time. We just tried again.

Please any advise...I need to know how to respond (better)and help him get through his frustrations.

Answer 1

Each time he throws a fit like that you should just pull him aside and talk to him. Try asking him why he acts the way he does. Explain to him that just because he couldn't get it the first time, doesn't mean that he can't get it the second. It looks like there is a pattern in what he throws fits over - not succeeding. He needs reassurance and encouragement. It's good that you have him try again but I think explaining why people try again will help even more. Maybe that way he will be able to cope with disappointment on his own without you there to convince him to try again.

Answer 2

Take him to a medical doctor. There are some brain issues here. In real life people will not be able to accommodate all of his rages. You need professional help. Don't give up.

Answer 3

start ignoring the behavior -you are currently rewarding it.  take some parenting classes and give the kid what he really wants:  your attention.  hug him more often.

Answer 4

My son was the same way, He is 8,   What my husband Suggested was that he needed to accomplish something that was very difficult ,by himself, without help.....  At first i thought this was harsh and was completely against it,   But you see he is my youngest, so everyone has cattered to him  and he had gotten mentally lazy....   My husband said it like this, it is a process everyone must go through to gain there self respect,   Its almost like the grieving process.....    First comes denial...He denies he can do it.... second is anger... gets angry when things are hard, wants to give up..... third is grief... becomes sad that things are hard......and last is acceptance.....    He accepts that things are hard and you have to fight through it...              

We put him in his room with a 50 piece puzzle, something he enjoyed but had a hard time doing on his own, we told him he could come out when he completed the task on his own......

He went through the whole process, denial, anger sadness and then he accepted he had to do it on his own....    He was so proud of himself.... and he learned that even if its hard, he could do it...    He no longer throws his fits!!!          I hope I explained it correctly, and I hope it helped!!!