I like Daycarewhisperer's suggestion...it will likely shock him out of the crying and he'll forget that he was crying My suggestion was going to be distraction. Can you pull out something favourite or a new and different activity during that time? I have a boy who just turned two, who has been with me for 2 months now and he cries and clings to his mom most mornings although he is fine all day (he's just a mama's boy). I pay no attention to the tantrum, but pull out an activity that I know he will love, like some puzzles, some lacing buttons, playdough, etc and start setting the kids up with it...he is at the table in a flash and forgets about the crying after mama thing I think sometimes punishing the behaviour just makes it worse as it is giving him attention for it...negative attention is still attention. Sometimes a little creativity like what Daycarewhisperer mentioned, works wondered