3 year old behaviour - normal or more to it ?

[user1464795209]

Ladies ,
My three and half year old is becoming more and more naughty by the day. I actually can't put into words what he's like but I just can't believe this could be 'normal'.. Am I wrong to be wondering if he has something along the lines or 'oppositional defiance disorder ' or something :

• everything is a battle - from the minute he wakes to the minute he goes to bed.
  
• he picks arguments with everyone and everything simply because he wants to annoy others .
  
• he will argue with children about absolutely anything : eg: if a child said 'this toy is red'- Ds would say no it's blue and keep going until the child gives in.
  
• he says no to anything I ask of him.
  
• screams when he doesn't get his way.
  
• is rude to adults and just refuses to even talk to anybody and when he does it'll be him saying no.
  
• he purposefully tries to hurt DD ( baby sister)
  

I'm so down and upset . It doesn't feel one bit normal and I feel like I'm loosing my grip on being the best parent I can be . I feel like I'm failing and in turn failing him :(

[phoolani]

I've no idea if it's normal, but both mine went through phases that I could have described like that. They seem normal enough if that's any help! Though the 'yes, I did tell you to do that' 'no, you didn't!' arguments are still ongoing 10 years in and still drive me crazy. You need a strategy. Read a couple of parenting books (I like how to talk so kids will listen, but it may be too old for yours yet) and above all keep calm! A Herculean task, but worth it in the end. Ride it out for a bit, see how it goes. But don't despair yet.

[CodyKing]

You don't have to argue with a three year old - get revers physiology - when he say blue you say purple - then just agree with him OK it's green!

When he hurts his sister say nothing just ignore him - kids hate being ignored more than being told of - pick sis up and make a fuss of her -

Mine also has terrible 3's rather than 2's -

We all feel like failures at some point - think of one good moment today and go to sleep on that - even when you tuck him him - tell him you're have a good day and X was fun even if your seething and want him asleep -

Good luck we've all been there

[minipie]

My 3 year old has definitely been through phases when she seems to want to turn everything into a fight. Especially when she's a bit tired.

It's exhausting. But it passes.

If it hasn't passed in another 6 months-1 yr then that's a different issue, but unfortunately I think a short ish phase of this is totally normal for many kids.