I'm sure this has been asked a million times before...she's always been spirited but a golden girl at pre-school. Last week, her teacher pulled me over & said a few times she refused to look at her when being spoken to or do as she's told, very very unusual for her in that setting but at home very normal if she's frustrated or angry. I'm not concerned, I think it's healthy & normal for kids to test boundaries...but I don't know how to handle her testing those boundaries without crushing her spirit. So today I asked her to clear up a mess she'd made playing...no...point blank refused...but she's smirking at me, and when I get down on her level to ask her again, she tries to run off, laughing, it's a game. I feel like I have no teeth in the situation because she's too young to really value anything (she doesnt care about screen time etc). I do say 'unless you do as you're told, we won't go to the park/bake etc' & I do follow through with that threat (though God knows a day in with a baby & not yet 4 year old is more a punishment for me than her!!). So my question is how do I handle those moments of defiance? The no, I'm not doing it, what you gonna do about it? I think this is what has happened at pre-school, the teacher has asked her to listen & she's just shut down & refused, it that's I want to handle well. I don't want to make her meek, I do not want a meek daughter, but I want her to respect my authority & do as I say (whilst acknowledging that the very nature of a 4 year old is to test boundaries!!)
For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.
Parenting
Managing a 'spirited' 4 year old?!
suddenlycupishalffull · 27/05/2015 21:51
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