A caregiver training package on the use of a pictorial (visual) schedule to illustrate each day's expected activities to a child. Caregivers will be trained to ensure that activities occur as described in the schedule as far as possible, thus the expected mechanism of action is the reduction of (unexpected change) antecedents of children's temper outbursts.

A caregiver training package where parents are taught to present a distinctive visual-verbal cue to a child whenever they become aware that a change will take place in the child's usual/expected activities. Caregivers will be trained to only ever present to cue if they can be sure that a change to the child's routine or plan will occur, thus the expected mechanism of action is the child's learned association between the presentation of the cue and the subsequent occurrence of a change to their expectations. Signalled changes will therefore be more predictable for the child, and should therefore be easier for them to deal with.

Caregivers will present a visual schedule with pictorial representations of activities/events expected to occur each day will be presented to children at set times of day (tailored for individual's schedules). Ultimately caregivers will aim to ensure that activities occur as per the schedule as far as possible - thus decreasing the child's level of exposure to unexpected changes in routines or plans.

Informant reports of outbursts using a web-based behaviour diary after they occur. Entries comprise check lists of individual behaviours comprised in the outburst, an intensity rating (1-3 or 1-5 point scale depending on the different intensities of outburst parents were able to operationally describe), a description of the duration (<1 minute; >1 & <5 minutes; >5 & <15 minutes; >15 minutes & < 1 hour; >1 hour [specify]); a check list of possible antecedent events; and a check list of possible actions taken by caregivers. Frequency per month of temper outbursts following change-related antecedents of each intensity level and each duration will comprise the primary measurement.

Reports will also be made every 3 days, of the number of outbursts over the previous 3 days (for validity checking); and of the number of changes to routines/plans experienced by the child. The percentage of changes that were followed by outbursts will comprise measurement 2.

Informant reports will be made using a scheduled entry section of the behaviour diary, on the number of changes to routines /plans experienced by the child since the previous entry. These data will be used to calculate the percentage of experienced changes that were followed by a temper outburst

An informant report questionnaire on the cost to health services associated with the child over the previous 6 months