my 4 yr old just started breaking all the rules!

Diane - posted on 01/05/2009

welcome to the world of assertivness. All kids gothrough one stage of this or another. She is testing the boundaries and also looking for attention. Stay consistent with the discipline. Time out is a good one as well as loss of favortie toy/show/activity. Consistency is the key. I have 3 children 18, 14 and 12, they all do it and mine have managed to stay alive and well, despite driving me absolutely NUTS!!! Good luck.

Dawn - posted on 01/04/2009

hi have you tried the naughty spot ? put her on it for 4 mins and keep putting her back every time she gets off befor the 4 mins are up! me and my friends use it and it works a treat i may take a few goes at first. also make a sticker chart and let her put the sticker on when she has been good 10 stickers a day she gets a treat eg special mummy time( let her make your face up with makeup? you read her a story ? then at end of the week when she has 10 stickers for every day give her a big treat eg swimming, afternoon at the park hope this helps xxx

Johanna - posted on 01/04/2009

She is soooo testy boundaries on every level. She also is old enough now to see how it gets you all wound up.

She is making decisions to do stuff. What worked for my kids at that age was simple and at least for them worked very well.

I told them this....you can do it the easy way or the hard way.

I will use this in an example:

You can do it the easy way.....lay down and take a nap OR the hard way....which is...(then you put it whatever could be the bad punishment for acting up during nap) like she can't watch any TV for that day or she can't do something that she loves like color.



My kids would pick the easy way and it only took a couple hard ways and they didn't care for that. Also make her responsible for her messes. Stand by her as she picks up what she can and show her how to clean up messes like the powder or ointment. Now of course it won't be perfect clean job but once you have to step in have her hold the garbage bag or get you more paper towel....etc etc.

She is definetly giving you the business. I agree with Paulette with what is going on around 3 that causes it to start up. Is that when you guys get home?? Does she need a moment before she goes to nap? Coming straight home and straight into nap time could be causing her to have bottled up energy and not ready to lay down. Even though you need her to. I have so been there before.

It is time to give her boundaries. She is old enough to make decisions and have consequences. If you take the tv away as a punishment then have some sort of container that you can put up for the remote and have her bring you the remote to be put up. She might kick and scream it out but it has to be done. Firm, Fair and Consistence.

Paulette - posted on 01/04/2009

What punishments do you use with her? What is the 1-2-3 Magic technique? I may know it but not have given it a title. What kind of rules does she have to follow? I am asking all these questions so I can give you the advise you need. =0)

Paulette - posted on 01/04/2009

It's funny that she waits until after 3 do anything. So what in her day changes after 3pm? Does dad go to work? Is dad coming home from work? What time is her nap? There is something in her routine that has changed or needs to is what I am wondering...any idea(s)?