Karen, I remember my oldest (now 14) doing this!! I would take him to daycare (he went to family daycare) and he'd chuck a tanty about going.. then when I went to pick him up he'd chuck one about leaving! He actually chucked one that bad one day he fell backwards and hit his head on the bricks... really gave him something to cry about for real... he was fine, bled like head wounds do, but fine. It's seriously a hard one to deal with cos I found it upsetting and also embarassing like I felt people staring and judging IYKWIM? I like Lucy's idea of the distraction though. I don't know what else to suggest, but keep in mind, you're not the only one