my 5 year old son throws REALLY BAD fits!

[mmom155]

i have a 5 year old, and lately, he has been throwing really bad fits.  when he gets into trouble, my husband and i put him on the carpet.  but now, he is starting to scratch me, and slap me and it does hurt.  he throws toys at me and screams until his voice is gone.  we let him throw his fit and then he gets a time out for 5 minutes.  this is not working and he is even waking up late at night an throwing fits.  it is getting to be way too much for us to handle and i feel like i am faling my son because he refuses to talk to us and tell us why he is mad.  otherwise, he is a healthy child.  he is going into kindergarden, is finishing up his last week of pre- k, an is very active.  we have family time together and he is a really sweet boy.  but man once his fits come out, WOW, i find myslef wondering where i went wrong.  any help you could give me i would appreciate it.  once my son is done throwing his fits, we talk to him and let him know we are taking some of his toys away because of his behavior, but that we love him very much..... not working!!  
is there any other way my husband and i can talk to my son so that we can stop this bad fits and communicate better with him???  when he gets mad all he does is makes grunting noises and when we try to talk to him he gets even more mad.  we are really at our last rope.  
thank you

[margypops]

Sounds like he is seeking more attention, do you do things with him Read a lot not just "Family Times" has he a younger sibling he is jealous of this is often the way. When he gets mad Have a chair in another area you can sit him on and if he gets off it put him quietly and gently back each time till he is quiet, before you do this explain with no yelling why you are doing it,Once he is quiet again lots of Hugs, Dont have TV on too much kids see too many violent acts on TV they try to emulate.