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AIBU?

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Will she grow out of it?

30 replies

DesperatePunchbag · 02/11/2025 23:47

I’m desperate for help with my 3.5 year old DD who has become a violent nightmare.

She is our second child - DS is now 7 and a relatively placid child who has never hit anyone in his life. DD on the other hand is becoming increasingly more difficult. We’ve just returned from a 2 week holiday which has really highlighted how bad the situation has become. Several times a day she will have the most almighty tantrum - screaming at us and punching/scratching/biting as hard as she can. She really is trying to hurt us. When she does this I will often have to restrain her by holding her arms by her side. I do this as gently as possible but she will scream her head off that I am hurting her and then play the victim afterwards, which is obviously mortifying if we are out in public.

The trigger for this behaviour is generally some version of not getting what she wants. Eg wanting a certain snack or a toy in a shop, being stopped from running out into a road or climbing something dangerous, getting the wrong colour plate… it could be any minor thing. Basically she’s become the classic brat.

I don’t know where we’ve gone so wrong. I certainly don’t give in to her demands when she tantrums. We try to discipline her using immediate consequences, although that’s not always feasible depending on the situation. We also explain to her (when she is calm) that good behaviour will be rewarded whereas if she hits she will lose out / be punished. She agrees with this and seems to understand, but then just can’t seem to self regulate enough to remember it when the red mist descends. I thought about a sticker chart but again I can’t see her remembering about it in the moment. I’ve read many of the parenting books that get recommended on here. I haven’t tried ‘The Explosive Child’ yet but it’s next on my list.

Has anyone had a child who was like this at this age? Did they grow out of it? Do you have any advice?! 🙏

OP posts:
firstofallimadelight · 03/11/2025 07:01

For whatever reason at this point she can’t regulate her self. This is not her fault but yes you need to discipline things like hitting because obviously you can’t accept those behaviours.
First don’t sweat the small stuff, the normal parenting that you would be on top of let go for now. Focus on these big behaviours, try to stay calm (role model the behaviour you want ) give a warning then give a discipline (5 min time out or similar ) try to stick to same discipline for consistency and keep small if you give a big punishment there’s no incentive to behave.
i personally wouldn’t discipline a meltdown as if she’s in overwhelm she’s not deliberately doing any behaviour she’s reacting to the flight or fight situation she’s in. But removing her from a situation and staying with her trying to soothe could help. If you can try to get her to lay down (to ground her) or give her a cushion or similar to hit /pull at. Talk calmly and remind her she is safe/ok. Don’t ask her to do anything she will fail. Try to find things that are soothing/distracting for her (food/screen/ toy/ ) and try to offer at the start or end of a melt down to offset it if possible. When she is calm do some feelings work with her if she is willing. Using pictures try to name her emotions with her and help her understand what she is experiencing. Look at things she could do to help that emotion (again picture form) like cuddle a teddy, have a drink, go for a walk, read a book, eventually you want to get to a point where she can pause and access her calming tools but it could take a while.
The most important thing you can do is manage her environment, try to have consistent routine- eat , sleep etc at similar times every day. ( You could create a picture chart of her day if you feel it wil help) Try to pre warn her of changes to routine/new situations. Show her visuals. Try to pre empt meltdowns, so if you can see a situation that will cause a reaction remove her or distract her. Try not to set her up to fail , so if there are certain situations that set her off try to avoid them first now (you can reintroduce gradually later) Try to make sure both kids get some 1:1 time and tag team )separate activities) if it helps. What you are aiming to do is bring her anxiety/anger down so you can work on supporting her . Look for triggers and try to avoid/alter them. Make sure she gets down time everyday to reset her self.

Is she at nursery? What’s her behaviour like away from you ?
I would speak to nursery , explain the issues you are having and ask them to observe her (ideally the senco) but yes she may hold her behaviours in at nursery and let them out with you because she feels safe to.

Anditstartedagain · 03/11/2025 06:31

Was she worse with the unpredictability of the holiday? What did you do to prepare her for the holiday? Looking ay photos, social stories, visual time tables, youtube videos of the place you were visiting?

SillyQuail · 03/11/2025 06:26

Is she otherwise sensitive (light sleeper, irritated by clothing labels, quick to get frustrated)? My son is and he used to get aggressive when he was overwhelmed at that age. You sound like you have quite a punitive attitude and perceive her as the problem - maybe try focusing on reducing stressors for her (avoiding crowded places, keeping routine very samey and calm) and see if it improves?

GarlicBreadStan · 03/11/2025 06:21

My son is 7 now, but from between the ages of 2 until about a month ago, he was really aggressive. It peaked at the age of 5 and 6.

I'm not saying it will last anywhere near as long for your little girl, by the way.

He just suddenly stopped being aggressive. He still talks to me rudely sometimes but I try not to take that personally because he really does struggle to regulate himself, bless him.

But she might just grow out of it. You have my empathy, OP x

DesperatePunchbag · 02/11/2025 23:53

Just to add - she attends nursery at a school 3 days a week and seems to get on well there. The casual feedback we’ve had so far has all been positive, I’m pretty sure they would let us know if she was going around hitting the staff or other children. But I do plan to talk to her teacher to get a bit more detail on that.

OP posts:
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