I have a two yr old son who has always been a handful. He has always been a crier. He lets out SHRILL screams when he's upset. It was so bad that it was really affecting my husbands relationship with him- just because he'd get so frustrated and we didn't know how to deal with it. Usually, I just keep calm and gently talk to him -try to get him to communicate with his words but on really bad days, I have to put him in another room just so we can keep our sanity. It's not something I'm worried will get out of hand and has actually gotten a little better now that he's started talking more, but I guess I just want to know if there is another way to deal with these outbursts and will he outgrow it as he starts talking more and more?

If you can determine when he is most likely to have a melt down, maybe you can avoid at least some of them. Might notice it more if he is hungry or tired. Maybe in unfamiliar places. It can sometimes help to talk to him ahead of time in simple terms about expectations and what sort of behaviour you expect. Obviously keep it simple, but he will understand more than he can verbalize... and that is likely a part of it as well. He may get easily frustrated when he can't communicate how he would like to... in which case it should get better as he gains greater vocabulary.

Continue to use your words with him, and help him find the words he wants, but don't overly push him to have to "perform" what he has learned.

A short time-out can work for some children... let him know why and what you expect when he comes out. Keep it very short, you may even quietly sit with him... when he calms, praise him, let him know that you are sure he will do better next time and carry on. Keep it matter of fact... no drama, even if he puts on a good show!

When I taught Sunday school years and years ago a family had adopted several small childeren and one boy was starting to act out slowly. I would talk in a softer voice and try to explain things to him, till one Sunday he had a blow up he was so upset about something and screamed and cyed and he just wouldn't stop I coulndt find his parnets so I asked my assistant to take over and we sat in a corner withhim screaming I held him tight on my lap and just whispered in his ear I love you and jesus loves you over and over then little by little it slowed down he go up and put his arms around my and cried and cried. From that point on I always hugged him and told him how much everyone loves him and he was a compleley changed boy. He just need just that little bit of reasurrance that he was loved and that you were here for him... I hope that may help

My 2 3/4yo boy is a screamer too. He just gets so worked up sometimes he can't help it. I can tell when there is really something wrong, or he is just throwing a temper tantrum. In the middle of the night he wakes up just shrieking, I know this is a night terror and he needs me to calm him and cuddle him, even though he keeps crying for 5-10 minutes. He does eventually calm down and goes right back to sleep. But when he is throwing a fit because he doesn't get what he wants I ignore him. I turn my back or leave the room. If I've told him no, and he can't have it or can't do it once or twice, and he keeps at it, that's it. I say when you're done crying come give me hugs and kisses. He eventually calms himself down, figures out I'm not going to give in when he's naughty, and comes and sits on my lap and cuddles.

My youngest son is like that, it is very difficult to figure out if something is seriously wrong. He's been like that since he was born, now he's seven and though it has improved as he's gotten older, when he melts down it is still that ear piercing scream.

Some kids are more sensative than others, I have recently started sitting down with him when it is feasible to let him "vent" same as a friend or my other half. This helps a lot if I catch it before the breaking point but once the meltdown starts, just have to ride it out.