Are these behaviors communicative, attention seeking, or self-reinforcing – This is a question that needs to be answered to determine the best intervention. For a minimum of one day, keep track of the behavior (screaming) on an ABC chart. ABC tracking helps determine the reason for a behavior. “A” stands for Antecedent, or what happened before the behavior. “B” stands for the behavior. In this case, describe the behavior by asking these questions: Were the screams continuous or short? Was he looking at someone? Was he reaching for something? “C” stands for Consequence, or what happened right after the scream. Did someone react or attend to the child? Did he receive something (attention, item, etc.)? Completing an ABC chart will help determine if your child is attempting to communicate, seeking attention, or just enjoying the sound. There may be multiple and overlapping reasons for the screaming but this response assumes the most prevalent reason is that the child is attempting to communicate a need or desired object/person. Timing your responses and other family members’ responses to the screaming is crucial. Teaching your child appropriate ways to communicate his needs and wants in addition to your learning to respond in ways that reinforce appropriate communication rather than reinforce screaming will decrease the screaming and increase peace in the house and in public.