Tantrums

• Screaming, crying, turning red in the face; these are all signs of old-fashioned tantrums. Many children enter the tantrum phase when they're 2, but for some, 3 years old is peak tantrum time. Tantrums are usually a result of pure frustration. The child is either frustrated over not getting what he wants or not being able to properly communicate what he wants. While tantrums can be annoying and make the parent just as frustrated as the child, they are a normal part of childhood development and will eventually pass.
  
  

Lack of Attention Span

• Most 3-year-olds are capable of listening to a story or having a short conversation, but compared to older children, they still have relatively short attention spans. For this reason, your child may not be able to sit still or be appropriately quiet in certain situations. She may also tend to dawdle or wander off if you are shopping or running some errands. Try to understand that your child is incapable of paying attention for long periods, and keep her out of scenarios that put her or yourself in a difficult situation.
  
  

Problems Interacting

• Three is the age when many children start preschool, which means that they begin to interact with other kids their age. Throw a bunch of children who are still learning about self-control together, and there are bound to be problems. Three-year-olds are likely to be reluctant to share toys with each other, and reasoning won't usually prompt them to be more generous with their friends. Three-year-olds are also prone to bouts of physical fighting, biting, pushing and pinching. While you do not want your child to hurt other children, understand that this is not abnormal behavior.
  
  

How to Deal

• You will be able to reason with your 3-year-old more effectively than you did when he was 2, but he will still not be able to control himself in many situations. Try your best to listen to him when he tries to communicate his emotions and be empathetic to his feelings. Try to gently put a stop to bad behavior, and discipline appropriately without losing your temper. While 3-year-olds do tend to have behavioral problems, they also have many good moments, so be sure to praise your child's good behavior, in addition to dealing with his missteps.