I know this sounds harsh but it worked for us. Ike would throw the biggest fits. He would hit who ever was there and throw what ever he could get his hands on. I was bit in the face and a front tooth knocked clean out of my mouth. No matter where you are you must leave. Sometimes there is a sene and its ugly. I can rmember haveing to leave with him and it was at Knotts...a lot of money down the drain..lol! But leave and do not show any emotion but tell him this is not allowed. Bring him to a place..like home and put him in his room or in a room where he cannot hurt hme self. Sometimes that meens taking out lamps and anything he can throw. Do not give into it or show emotion to it. Let him know he must stay there until he stops. That can meen quit a bit of time. Sometimes I had to hold Ike on my lap with his arms crossed in front of him so he couldnt move so that he wouldnt run lets say to the street or out the door. Our Neuro center gave us business like cards that I or anyone with us could leave if there was a big commotion letting people know autism can cause this kind of behavior and if they have any question they could call and talk with their hotline. The most important thing is just letting the child know the behavior in not allow but no matter what you will be there for them to help them thru it....its hard but it works.

My son is 8 and HFA and my neurotypical daughter is 11. I find my daughter will sometimes irritate my son on purpose, like there will be an item he wants but it is hers but she isn't playing with it or what ever and when he says he wants it then all of a sudden she wants to start playing with it just to piss him off. I think it may be a jealousy thing because I do have to tend to him more than her, she is very bright and in advanced classes at school so doesn't require as much assistance with things, but I think it is just her preteen age too because like the other day my oldest who is MID was going on her first "date" and they were going to a fun park where they can drive go-karts and putt-putt and my daughter pitched a huge fit and I mean HUGE because she wanted to go to the fun park. I told her I had already had it in mind to take them all at another time but that wasn't good enough for her, she was trying to say that it wouldn't be fair for Amber to go then because she has already gone. She could not get it in her head that We was not the one taking Amber this time, that we weren't paying for her to go, that she was invited by a friend so her not going with us as a family would not be fair..we just had to make her take a break, go sit alone, and think about her attitude. She eventually "got it".LOL

Wow, and here I thought I was the only one. Public displays are not an issue (well, not full on meltdowns anyway). My husband always gives into his demands, and I tell him to quit it. Yes, I understand that it is his part of being autistic, but not always. He is a bright loving boy until he hears the word "no" or is told to do something he doesn't want to do...turn of the t.v or Wii or PS3, take a shower, brush your teeth, etc. You would think I was stabbing him the way he screams. Even while doing something simple like getting dressed in the morning. I have put him in his room and he will kick the walls and bang on the door (it is closed but not locked). Is this just his autism or is it also lack of discipline?

My son is three and on the spectrum and my daughter is 6 and is neurotypical. Our son has violent outbursts, throws things when he does not get his way, yells and screams. My daughter is doing the same thing. Not everyday does she do it but she is definitely testing the waters. We started play therapy with her and also put her in a autism sibling class. It does seem to help since she thinks she is getting "therapy" like her brother and gets to meet new people like him too. We always let her know that her behavior will not be tolerated and she has consequences for her actions. It is hard because I understand her feeling that way. Best of luck!