Screaming

[Movingforward]

How do you curb a 16-month-old's habit of screaming and yelling? I can't seem to connect a reason to his outbursts. He does this when I greet him at the door every morning or when he is playing, he would all of a sudden stop and direct his behavior towards us.

Is this normal?

I do know that he is going through a period of separation anxiety because every time an adult (mom/dad/me) walks away to another room he would cry.

I've tried to tell him to use his inside voice with a calm tone and I've even tried to be stern and said no yelling but neither seem to register with his behavior.

[Thriftylady]

Ask the parents if it happens at home and what they do when it does. I am betting it gets him something, attention, what he wants, something.

[Movingforward]

He probably does get attention since he's the only child but his parents know it's a common occurrence and would say to him "you're frustrated" and redirect him to something else.

He's also gotten to a habit of throwing things on the floor and sweeping those items across the floor when he is upset. I mean he's a sweet kid otherwise and very smart. I just don't want other children to pick up that vibe/ behavior.

[Thriftylady]

He probably does get attention since he's the only child but his parents know it's a common occurrence and would say to him "you're frustrated" and redirect him to something else.

He's also gotten to a habit of throwing things on the floor and sweeping those items across the floor when he is upset. I mean he's a sweet kid otherwise and very smart. I just don't want other children to pick up that vibe/ behavior.

It is almost as if saying "your frustrated" gives him an excuse. I would try to find him another outlet. Perhaps when he does it, he can go to a quiet place and do a quiet, independent activity? Then he will either learn that he can't do that and stay with his friends, or that he can leave his friends if he needs to and be alone. Either way, it gives him a choice he can make.

[daycare]

just like a crying spot I would give him that same spot away from everything fun so that he can scream. He can't come out of that spot until he's all done. He does it again he goes back to his spot.'

I have one that screams when dad brings to dc and this is how we handle it. the kid will sit for 5 min at the end of the hallway and scream at the top of his lungs, but we can hardly hear him. I have a video monitor there and he can't get into anything so he can safely sit there until he is done. We don't give screaming an audience. To me it's just another form of tantrum.

[Movingforward]

I'll try setting up some quiet activities for him when he goes off like that. If that doesn't work then I'll have to set him aside until he is ready to join the group.
Thanks for all your suggestions!