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Behaviour/development

Bossy 2.5 yr old

11 replies

Tenochtitlan · 22/07/2013 19:02

My 2.5 yr old boy is unbearably bossy (at least with me, not at all with friends). He'll drop things and demand I pick them up ( I don't, at least not generally, unless they're creating a hazard). He demands I play cars with him, but then he shouts at me for doing it wrong. He is always telling me off saying "no mummy". He has even done that when he has just turned a corner and seen me and I'm just standing there! If I don't understand something he's saying, he explodes at me. I feel like I'm a punch bag waiting to be battered (emotionally). Has anyone else had similar, got through it, and perhaps any advice?

OP posts:
Karen4007 · 22/07/2013 19:53

Terrible two's. My daughter is similar. If I am pushing her on a swing she has a tantrum coz I am doing it wrong.

I go down to her level and say "listen". I keep saying this until I have her attention and then explain what she is doing wrong. Or more to the point, explain what I am doing right. I then explain that I can push her my way, or she can go and play on something else and let her decide!

I recently had an email from one of the baby groups saying "Welcome to the whining faze" TRUE!

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHopeful · 22/07/2013 21:21

Oh good it's not just mine then. Dd is the same age and is appallingly bossy and demanding.

She's started using the low pitched firm voice I speak to her with when she is misbehaving back at me. I've started her on the naughty step and it is sort of working but she threatens to misbehave - saying she will throw something on the floor / spill something / push over children at nursery. at nursery she is well behaved

I keep telling myself its just a phase please let it end soon

Karen4007 · 22/07/2013 22:50

Lol WSWBSWH, My daughter has taken to telling me she is going to rip it! No matter what it is, potty, phone, remote and yes, in the same low pitched voice I tell her off in!

Smize · 22/07/2013 23:05

I feel your pain! My 2.5 year old DD is super bossy and it's driving me up the wall. Everything has to be done to her specific instructions. Driving her anywhere is particularly trying -"not this way mummy, go OTHER way, window OPEN mummy, put glasses on your head/ over your eyes/take them OFF mummy!" I've resorted to turning up the radio to drown out her royal commands.

I asked her to brush her teeth this morning and she gave me a death stare and said in her copycat stern voice "I am the queen, YOU listen to ME" Shock. Going to have to hide her Brave DVD ...

Smize · 22/07/2013 23:07

I feel your pain! My 2.5 year old DD is super bossy and it's driving me up the wall. Everything has to be done to her specific instructions. Taking her anywhere in the car is particularly trying -"not this way mummy, go OTHER way, window OPEN mummy, put sunglasses on your head/ over your eyes/take them OFF mummy!" I've resorted to turning up the radio to drown out her royal commands.

I asked her to brush her teeth this morning and she gave me a death stare and said in her copycat stern voice "I am the queen, YOU listen to ME" Shock. Going to have to hide her Brave DVD ...

Karen4007 · 23/07/2013 08:12

I had to hide the Garfield Dvd because she started calling everyone "stupid dog" I was so embarrassed as I thought they might think that is what I called her. A friend even jokingly said "oh, out of the mouth of a babe and all that" but U have to wonder if she was really joking!

PseudoBadger · 23/07/2013 08:18

Bossy two and half year old too. Well, he'd like to be but I don't comply....

Prozacbear · 23/07/2013 11:51

Same as pseudo - they will carry on if you let them get away with it. Just deflect or ignore anything that seems dictatorial.

DS (2.4) tried to put ME on the naughty step - cheeky thing.

He also tells other people off - when they don't wait for the green man at crossroads, and one man for littering! Tiny policeman.

But perfect at nursery.

JacqueslePeacock · 23/07/2013 22:45

Oh yes, this is us too. DS is only 22mo and doesn't quite have the language skills for it, but is already getting there. We have a constant stream of "No, mummy. No there, THERE! No, mummy. There! No sit down, mummy, stand up. No, stand up THERE! No singing, mummy. Dance! Dance THERE!". Mostly I play along and try to laugh or distract him out of it, but I worry a bit that I perhaps shouldn't be humouring him quite so much.

Tenochtitlan · 22/08/2013 18:40

I agree with deflect and ignore in principle and do try to, however, sometimes you just get fed up with constantly being shouted at and end up complying. I know it is meant to help with tantrums when they recognise and name their emotions, so we have made a point of talking to him about this. However, all we get now is "I'm sad....." ie when we don't do exactly what he wants .... driving us both crazy. Thought I'd better check this thread out again, as had a particularly bad day with him today, nerves totally on edge with him shouting at me. Hey as I write this he's telling me to sit in the other chair ..... I am not moving......

OP posts:
exoticfruits · 22/08/2013 19:00

I would just ignore and turn into a joke as in ' you really are a bossy boots!'

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