[epl0822]

DS has started screaming. It's not simply raising his voice, it's full on, extremely unpleasant, glass shattering screaming. He will scream if something happens that he doesn't like, such as his toy breaking or being reprimanded for other naughty behaviour, being told we're leaving the playground, etc. I was wondering if anybody else had this with their toddler and what worked the best? Ignore it? Time out? Tell him off?

[tidey2]

My son does this too. We tried time out but it just seemed to escalate it and take him FOREVER to calm down. Now we ignore him. Once he calms down we talk about talking to people nicely and not screaming, we then have cuddles and tell each other we are friends again.

Time out = up to 1 hour of screaming before calming down
Ignoring him = 10 minutes before calming down

However my one of my girlfriends kids are the opposite and time out is far more effective. It's really an individual thing.

[BaduBJ]

My DS does this too, when he is frustrated or bored. We dont use time out for screaming, its saved for violent behaviour. When he screams, we break eye contact with him, turn our backs on him or even leave the room. He comes to us pretty quickly because he wants our attention, and sometimes our help. He will then usually ask for help, or tell us what is wrong.

[lady lady]

We ask once or twice nicely is she can talk softer - then we walk out of the room.

Walking out of the room usually stops her quick smart.

[Xiola]

Whisper to him while he's screaming. He should quieten up to hear what you're saying. It worked with my DS1 as did ignoring the behaviour.

[cheekymonkeysmum]

Ds started doing this a couple if wks back and the only thing that worked was time in and gentle cuddles.

We tried to ignore time out but that started a new thing of ds self harming himself (headbutting the walls kicking the walls slapping himself bitting himself till he bleeds etc)

so we can't do the ignore or time out here but it may hopefully work for your child.

[mrsgm]

My ds2 has been doing this too, it's awful.

I think it is just frustration with him so i have been saying that i cant understand him when he screams so he needs to tell or show me what is wrong.

If it is just the kind of "carrying on" for no reason screaming i tell him he has to go do it in his room because no one else wants to listen to it, and come out when he is finished.

Both seem to work to some degree, i have also been working a lot with him on words and pictures to improve his speech which i am hoping will help the whole situation.