Helping 5yo boy play and with anger

[mammymac]

Any advice on my 5 ds?
He's generally been a pretty easy-going lad up to recently.

The first problem is just a lack of focus and an inability to play detailed or imaginative games or anything of any length of time. He just wants to throw himself around the room, bashing toys and crashing cars into each other. When I try and sit down and play something I just can't keep his attention. He's surrounded by all sorts of toys (too many?) but just doesn't focus on any of them. Any ideas for getting him engaged? How do I teach him to play more constructively?
The second problem is a level of anger/aggression which seems to simmer up very easily. The slightest thing (e.g. me asking the same question more than once) can have him furious, shouting and making all these angry faces.
I'm not sure if the two things are linked.
Would really appreciate any ideas of things I can try or ideas of where I might be going wrong. Or is it "just a phase"? What's worked for you?
I also have a 2yo dd.

Mammymac, do you find this aggressive play is worse at any particular time of day; perhaps when dd is getting your attention or when he is tired or eaten something in particular. He is only 5 and may well be just experiementing with play, so I wouldnt worry too much. Also, does he get lots of your attention when he plays like this? You could possibly be reinforcing the bahaviour without realising it? This seems to be a recent change in the way he plays, so is there anything else that has changed recently? I would be inclined to try and model a less aggressive play. So rather than trying to get him to focus on a game you wan to play with thim, you need to join in his car game, but model the behaviour you want to see. Dont expect him to copy you straight away, but do this over time and you might find a change in his behaviour. Lots of positive praise when he does engage in less aggressive play is also great. He is probably only experimenting, and being 5!
Hope this helps X

Sorry to be boring (on other threads!) i have mentioned anger being caused by wheat and or high sugar foods. Go with Kelly but also look at his diet.

Thanks for those 2 replies - some things to think about particularly the reinforcement thought.
The behaviour started towards end of summer hols (we're in Scotland) so I thought maybe he "needed" school as some people say - he does respond to routine like lots of kids. However it's certainly continued since the start of school but then that's a huge adjustment too.
I'm sure I need to be a bit more imaginative in games to engage him a bit more.