Frustration

One of the down sides to 2 1/2 is that Anna gets very frustrated very easily. She knows how to say 'help' but I'm not sure everyone around her understands when she does so she's taken to having small fits when things don't work out the way she wants or she can't reach something or she drops something or she can't do physically do something that cognitively she understands. I'm trying to teach her patience and how to ask nicely for help rather than getting worked up right away, but I think it's just something that time will take care of. I try to be patient myself with her and intervene before she goes berserk, and depending on the time of day and the situation, it works. Other times I just let her go and let her get over it herself. Doesn't usually take too long unless she's especially tired or hungry. Generally if she's playing by herself and starts to get annoyed, if I act as if I don't notice, she figures it out herself or asks nicely for help. It's when she catches me noticing her problem, that the freak outs are the worst. Can anyone say 'manipulative'?!