Why might toddlers act out physically, such as throwing tantrums?

Toddlers often act out physically, including throwing tantrums, because they lack the language skills to express their feelings effectively. At this developmental stage, children are still acquiring the ability to communicate their needs, desires, and frustrations verbally. When they face situations that overwhelm them or when they cannot articulate what they want, they may resort to physical expressions of their emotions, such as crying, screaming, or throwing objects.

By throwing a tantrum, toddlers are essentially expressing emotions like anger, frustration, or sadness that they cannot yet convey in words. This behavior is a normal part of their emotional and cognitive development as they are learning to navigate their feelings while simultaneously developing their language skills. Therefore, providing opportunities for language development and teaching toddlers to verbalize their feelings can help reduce instances of physical acting out as they grow.