18 month old bursting out crying at toys

[jammydodger5]

Hi everyone I'm currently having a really hard time with my 18 month old DD. DD still doesn't talk and is just starting to walk she was born 3 months early.

For the past week she has been happily playing with toys then suddenly she will burst out screaming and crying and throw the toy she is playing with away. I'm wondering if it could be frustration or a temper tantrum. I take the toy away after she throws it away, then the crying gets worse for around 5 mins then she happily finds something else to play with and then it's start again.

Does anyone have any ideas what could be causing sudden burst of tears?

It sounds like she's frustrated with the toy for some reason. Maybe she can't work out what to do with it and can't verbalise to ask for help. It's a difficult age where they start to be more independent but their abilities don't always allow them to be as independent as they want them to be! Have you tried sitting with her and showing her how to use certain toys and seeing if she will imitate? Staying close to her so that she can turn and signal that she'd like some help if she can't actually say "help"?

They also start to experience more complex emotions like anger at this age but obviously have no idea of the "acceptable" ways to deal with the emotions. So they will throw and sometimes hit and scream as their natural ways of expressing these emotions until they're told "I know that you're feeling angry, but we don't hit" etc. It's a difficult time for them and us!

Good luck x

Thank you or the great advice, I will sit with her and help her out with toys if she needs me too to see if it helps x