It can feel upsetting when your child has sudden emotional outbursts, especially when the reaction seems much bigger than the situation. Some children may cry intensely, shout, scream, throw things, run away, refuse instructions, or find it difficult to calm down. An emotional outburst in children can happen for many reasons. It may be linked to age, temperament, tiredness, hunger, anxiety, sensory overload, frustration, communication difficulties, changes in routine, learnin