My son screams!?

Question

My 3 yr old (almost 4 yr old) son screams whenever things are not going his way. They are ear piercing screams and he does it continuously! He screams in the stores when I won't get him a toy or whatever it is and it bothers the hell out of me and everyone else in the store. I have turned around and left the store immediately a few times when he has done this but it is hard to be consistent when I'm half way through checking out a cart full of groceries at the register. Plus, I have a cart or stroller with a 1 yr old and at the same time I have to literally drag my son by the arm when I want to leave the store.

I just don't know what to do. Is this a common phase at this age, I thought he might be a little too old for this? Should i spank? Should I put pepper in his mouth? Should I ignore? What should I do??!!

dorito - why would you say that I am walking away from my son???

Answer 1

Okay first off do not ignore this cause that will make him scream louder . I am sorry but I am a firm believer in spanking . I have raised two sons who are now 23 and 25 yrs old they have great jobs ,one is a paramedic and one is a police officer . they have never been in jail at all ,never messed with drugs or anything of that nature . Yes I would spank his butt . also you might try time out and tell him when he is threw screaming then he can get up but not untill and if he does it again ,put him in the chair again . when he does this in the grocery store just let him alone and ignore him in public but when you get him home ,spank his butt . good luck .

Answer 2

I have two boys, the youngest is 3. Recently, he started the same thing. What works for us is:
If at home we try two things: 1 is to redirect his attention to something else. If he really wants that peice of candy, try offering a peice of fruit. 2 is to put him in the naughty chair. This is when he is so defiant that nothing will calm him down. Sit him in the chair until he calms down. He may try to get up, put him right back into it. Nothing is said to him other than when you calm down you can get up.
If we are in public: Again try to redirect his attention. We also keep those small cheap toys in the car as a "prize box" and before we go anywhere we bribe them. "IF you are good then you can pick a prize when we get back to the car". If that doesn't work and they still misbehave, we leave. No questions asked.

The worst thing you can do is give in to him. To him that says if he screams long enough then you will eventually give in to what he wants.

I believe in spanking, but I found it doesn't work in this case.

Answer 3

I can tell you right now, the fact that you're -walking away from your own son- is going to make everything go downhill. :( I'm guessing the reason he screams is because it's just his ear-shattering way of getting attention. (When I was 3 or 4, I'd do something like that myself. :P Although it was more of a 'running-around-and-not-sitting-down-quietly' sort of thing.) If you can risk more screams, I'd try to ignore him doing this. Believe me, he doesn't like doing it as much as you don't like hearing it. Hopefully he'll learn that screaming isn't a smart way to get your attention.

If that doesn't work, try sitting him down and telling him that screaming isn't appropriate, especially in public. The next time you go shopping and you bring your son along, try ignoring the screams, but praise him when/if he calmly asks for your attention. It's a little like training a puppy, isn't it? :P

Answer 4

He has either figured out a way to get you to leave the store when he is tired of shopping, or he is honestly frustrated. Try talking to him in a calm voice (which sounds crazy when he's screaming at you) if you keep your voice quiet, chances are he'll stop to listen to you. I think your best bet is to ignore it, and if he won't listen when you talk during screaming, talk to him afterwards when he's calmer. Too bad for the other people in the store, let him holler, and continue on with your business.

Answer 5

Your son is testing his power, and it seems that he has found a powerful tool. All children do that one way or another, and some of them are quick at finding their parents' weak spot. I think that you have the choice between ignoring him and hoping that after a few embarrasing incidents he will determine that his tactic isn't working, or to "hit back" (figuratively speaking) and punish him for acting as he does. Punishment could consist in a quick smack on the spot and some more serious consequence when you have left the "battle zone". Neither of these alternatives is pleasant for you, but that's one of the "little joys" of parenting. I wish you strong nerves and the best of luck!

Answer 6

When he is using the scream technique to control you or get what he wants head for the checkout line immediately. When he gets home he gets time out or no TV or a simple job to do.
Never give in to him and eventually he will stop. I always had the rule (five children) that on every grocery trip each child got to choose one thing...kind of cereal or bread or ice cream...something that I was going to buy anyway...if they wanted to change their mind and choose cookies instead of cereal it was fine....I got to choose the cereal (or someone else) and they got to choose the cookies...It gives them and active role in choices and their opinion counts. If he throws a tantrum he gets no choices at all because he goes directly home!

Answer 7

i think you need to like teach ur son that he cant have everything he wants and yelling and screaming and throwing a tantrum wont help him get what he wants. have a talk with him about his screaming and say its not good manners or sumthing. and everytime you go out to a store and he doesnt throw a tantrum, give him a treat like ice cream or candy. that way he'll learn how. **dont give him like big treats everytime cause then he'll just expect them**

Answer 8

it ought to be so uncomplicated as teething , whether he has had teeth till now with little or no crying each teeth is diverse and one would nicely be greater painful than yet another. in case you think of that is that this then bonjella or calgel would nicely be have been given from maximum shops now and purely rub it onto the gums i even used to place it on my ladies dummies. in case you are able to no longer get out you need to apply the way my husband did ( and a prior approach ) which became to place neat whiskey on his finger and rub it round her mouth and it labored a cope with . yet while it includes it in case you're hectic as a verify call the NHS helpline as no-you are able to truly push aside a hectic verify applicable needs wish you get a relax out of your toddler crying god is conscious mum's like it roxy x

Answer 9

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Answer 10

Be the parent!