Tantrums should be seen as opportunities for education, not as catastrophes. Frustration is an unavoidable part of a child's life as she learns how people, objects, and her own body work. Imagine not being able to communicate your needs to someone. Imagine being determined to program your VCR and being unable to do it, no matter how hard you try, because you can't understand how. That's the adult version of a tantrum.
Children use the only tools at their disposal for venting frustration.
Before age two, a child begins to develop a strong sense of self. She wants a great deal of independence to express that self and a great deal of control over her environment - more than she is actually capable of handling. When a toddler discovers that she can't do it herself and that she can't have everything she wants, the stage is set for a tantrum. The best way to deal with temper tantrums is to avoid them in the first place, whenever possible. Make sure your child isn't acting up simply because she's not getting enough attention.