Whatever is going on with him inside is being displayed on the outside. My daughter was just like him. She would throw the most awful, loud fits whenever life didn't give her what she wanted. It could be a toy that was her brother's, a dinner she didn't want to eat or just staying buckled up in a car. I tried the time out and spanking, but what finally worked with us is that I would get on eye level with her, not bending down, but squating down so I was no taller than her and telling her that I know what was going on was making her mad. Then asking her if I was right. If she said yes, I would hug her and tell her that I understood she was upset. Then I would tell her that while she felt upset it was not right to just grab whatever she wanted to, but maybe if she asked nicely her brother would share with her.
Think about it; who doesn't want control? I do, but as an adult I have learned the boundaries of what I can and cannot control. This is what we do as parents; not raise kids, but people who will become adults. You know you do not want your child behaving like this when he is 16. What will you do then? Your child will learn to respect you and your word when you show a mixture of respect, empathy and discipline. Acknowledging my children's feelings has gone a long way in establishing trust from my kids. After the acknowledgement is when I then do my teaching and instructing. Also, being consistent is very important here as you will send mixed signals and you will be very easily manipulated later if you do not maintain continuity. For example: If is is wrong to kick the wall when he doesn't get his way on one occasion, then it will be wrong on any occasion. There will be no exceptions. When the wrong behaviour occurs follow through with acknowledgement, instruction and then discipline. For example: "Son, I know you must be upset to kick the wall. We don't kick walls when we are upset about something (I always use "we". My kids don't see me do something I have asked them not to do."). Are you upset about not getting to play your video game longer (or whatever they are mad about)? (Let the child respond about what is making them angry. If they are silent proceed with the following.) I do understand that you wanted to do what you are doing, but it is time for you to go to school or you can play without being angry about not getting your way. Then you discipline in ratio to offense; also the times this has occured.
We have taught our kids that there are three rules of play in life: 1. Don't hurt yourself. 2. Don't hurt anyone else. 3. Don't hurt anything. If you break one of these rules in life you are not doing right. We have tried to let them know that we too have frustration when life does not give us what we want, but that is no reason to make things worse by getting physically angry. It is a crucial time to teach your child to control their anger. Teach them that anger and frustration are normal, but the way they show it has to be directed positively and they can always talk to you. Also, listen objectively; giving little criticism when they are admitting doing something wrong. Don'g get upset yourself when they do admit to breaking something and then hiding it or taking someone else's belongings. React by reaffirming their feelings, but then go into teaching what they did was wrong. Congratulations. You and your husband get that awsome and sometimes overwhelming task of teaching another human being to control themselves. I have always been rather shocked about someone saying, "control your children." Do they make a remote control for kids? If you ever find one let me know! I could seriously use it! I do know that I have to teach them to make a decision about their own behaviour and deal with what is happening to them in a positive manner. Have you ever stopped doing this for yourself? I haven't. This is probably one of the most important life skills we can teach our kids; to respond in a positive way when life dumps on us for some reason.
I have a 22 year old son that may be bi-polar, a 15 year year old daughter that is going on 23 if you please, and a 13 year old that is going through the I-don't-want-to-be-a-kid-but-I-don't-totally-want-to-grow-up-phase. You are not alone in this parenting thing. Just know that you are doing the right thing to be concerned. It is very upsetting to a child to feel like no one cares how they feel. You probably do, but as your child gets older they want to be shown and treated like they are a bit older and not a baby who is fed, clothed, and tended to on basically your whim; not as a person who can relate feelings on a higher level. You son sounds ready to be listened to. Your listening will open the door to a wonderful relationship that is well worth the effort in spite of all of the bumps and jarring of human behaviour.
By the way, my 15 year old that was throwing the tantrums at 2 and earlier, but was really a very sweet little girl most of the time, is now a person who knows that she can talk to me about stuff (any stuff) when she gets angry and that I won't always agree, but will be there to listen and then help her move on to better behaviour. I have been told by teachers again and again that my children are well behaved and respectful of other people. It is so nice to hear it. I just wonder what happens when they come home, fight with each other sometimes and then still don't want to clean their rooms. At least I know at some level I am getting through where it really counts.