What is the term for a child's tendency to have rapid mood swings?

The term that best describes a child's tendency to experience rapid mood swings is emotional lability. This term refers to the fluctuation in emotions that can appear exaggerated or inconsistent, which is often observed in children as part of their emotional development. Emotional lability is characterized by swift changes in mood that occur frequently and can be triggered by relatively minor events. This phenomenon is a normal aspect of childhood, as children are still learning to process and regulate their emotions.

In contrast, emotional stability refers to a consistent and steady emotional state without significant fluctuations. Emotional dysregulation describes a broader spectrum of difficulties in managing emotional responses, which may encompass both mood swings and difficulties in maintaining appropriate emotional responses. Emotional resilience, on the other hand, is the ability to adapt and bounce back from stress and adversity, signifying a stable emotional state rather than frequent mood changes. Therefore, emotional lability is the most appropriate term for the context of rapid mood swings in children.