My 4 year old DD is playing up a lot at the moment, by which I mean:
- shouting at me and her Dad
- occasionally hitting me or her 2 year old sister
- getting very angry and throwing things around
- being rude to me and her Dad
- acting up at bedtime
She has recently recovered from croup but her nursery school tells me she behaves well there although sometimes doesn't like to take 'adult instruction', for example when writing her name.
I try to give her and her little sister equal attention.
I'm currently staying very calm but telling her that it's not acceptable. If she hits me or her sister, or says something rude like 'shut up' to me, then I take away something she values immediately. Like her favourite book or toy of the moment. This causes her to be upset but stops the behaviour. I felt like I was making progress but this afternoon she had another meltdown as she wanted a story but we needed to go out. She hit me (I removed her doll) and then she told me to shut up (I removed her book).
Things have calmed down now but I'm feeling like a bad mother.
Do I just need to persevere with this and it will work?
Before the last fortnight, she was generally reasonably good. She's a very headstrong character, strong willed, etc, but is a sensitive soul at heart.
Help please!