4 year old with Attitude

[Melissa1983]

DD1 has just turned 4 and OMG her attitude has just changed. She is talking back, demanding things, won't listen at all, throwing herself around when she is in trouble...

Please help! How can control this? i feel i am losing it with her...

Does it get better?

[ThreePinkFaireez]

did you just describe my 4 year old?? :eek:

I will be watching this thread closely and hopefully pick up some tips!!

Mine has also become a bit nasty towards her younger sister... it's driving me batty!

[subaruforestermum]

LOL....I thought you were describing my 16 MONTH OLD SON......

He tells me "NO" all the time, refuses to listen, throws himself on the ground, doesnt matter where he is & here I was thinking it will get better......

So Im hoping it gets better......Goodluck

[Baby Girl]

I have no solution but can sympathise with you - DD1 has been a horror for longer than I care to remember. She turns 4 in December and i am hoping she will change back into my little angel again :fingerscrossed: I doubt it though!!

[Pippi Longstocking]

4 year olds are hard work. I have found all of mine difficult at four - 4 of my 5 kids have been through the Frustrating Fours (one is still there, he'll be five in March next year).

All I can say is just ride it out, it does pass. 4yos need firm and consistent boundaries because they are just testing out their world, seeing how far they can push limits and experimenting with independance. Consistency is the key here I think. Gentle parenting is more effective because they are at an age where they are mimicking a lot of behaviours - yelling, smacking etc will only have them yelling and smacking you back. Calm consistent reminders, lots of deep breathing and remind yourself that soon the year will be over and they'll be five - at which point a whole new set of challenges will begin :p .

[babyboo]

My dd is 3.5 and we are entering this stage and i really dont like it !!!!

She demands things, wont listen - when i even say to her "are your ears turned on, if not switch them on and listen"

I find if i tell her off or not to do something she get very smart and either tells me back or growls at me or something - ive discovered that they can be very RUDE at this age. I know they are testing boundaries, but i normally put her in her room when she is being blatenly rude to me.

She is sometimes rough and like to jump on people etc, which is getting very tiring and i dont like her to lump herself on people unexpectantly all the time.

little kid with BIG attitude :banghead: My dd has also just started a new daycare where she is in with the 4 and 5 year olds and ive definately noticed the difference in her behaviour since.

Im trying to be firmer and consistant without being to harsh - hard to find that balance sometimes :rolleyes:

My experience with dd is that its a whole different game when they hit 3!!!!!!

[illawarramumof2boys]

all these responses sound like my son too. i never suffered with the terrible 2's but the 4 year old stage is impossible at times. :thumbsdown:

i agree with one of the other mums consistency seems to work with my son. i've also started a reward chart for good behaviour and its working wonders.

i never thought my angel son would act like he is on and off at the moment though. all we can all do is hope it comes to an end and soon;)

[Mariposa]

4 year olds are hard work. I have found all of mine difficult at four - 4 of my 5 kids have been through the Frustrating Fours (one is still there, he'll be five in March next year).

All I can say is just ride it out, it does pass. 4yos need firm and consistent boundaries because they are just testing out their world, seeing how far they can push limits and experimenting with independance. Consistency is the key here I think. Gentle parenting is more effective because they are at an age where they are mimicking a lot of behaviours - yelling, smacking etc will only have them yelling and smacking you back. Calm consistent reminders, lots of deep breathing and remind yourself that soon the year will be over and they'll be five - at which point a whole new set of challenges will begin :p .

i agree

[MummyCharmzy]

Gee I'm glad we went through similar things 12 months ago with Alex as now Zach has just turned 4 and he is just the same. The attitude is shocking, though Alex's attitude now aged 5 can be worse in different ways not but he doesnt have tantrums like zach does. Gee kids can be hard work! Zach is bad with yelling and screaming and alex is bad with physical aggression. When the boys go at each other Zach will yell and alex will beat him up... its not fun!

I'm just going to pretend girls dont do this though okay??? *lalalaaaaa girls are little angels lol*

[Mariposa]

I'm just going to pretend girls dont do this though okay??? *lalalaaaaa girls are little angels lol*

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

girls do DO THIS! Believe me! sometimes the way between my 7yo and 3yo fight, i just want to hide or run!

[MummyCharmzy]

oi don't ruin it!!! lol Let me live in my fantasy world lol

ETA - when I hear the boys start up I think WW3 has just arrived...

[sugar n spice]

sorry to say this but my son is 5 and going through this. He has a real little attitude, everything is " I will go / i will do it when im ready and want to" he wont do what you ask if hes busy or anything. he yells and if he doesnt get his way chucks huge tantrums.:banghead:

[Melissa1983]

I'm just going to pretend girls dont do this though okay??? *lalalaaaaa girls are little angels lol*

Sad thing is.... my two are girls... DD2 has just turned 3 today. and i am dreading next 12 months.
Today Mum picked the girls up as DH had to work and i didn't finish to after 5, and they screamed all the way home because they didn't get picked up in the car they wanted... :banghead: Just can't win..