Preschooler meltdowns and not listening to me- advice needed please!!

[Andjustlikethat22]

Oh god I've had the day from hell.

My almost 4 yo ds has had meltdown after meltdown, shouting, rolling on the floor, kicking screaming all day. He's not listening to me at all these days, had to nip to a shop and the whole time he's grabbing things off the shelf even in his pushchair he's grabbing and won't let go until he's pulled something off the shelf.
It's been awful today.

How do you get a 3/4 yo to listen? I've tried a reward chart but it's not working at all. Help!!

Honestly, it depends on your child. DD would always listen if I employed logic. DS1 has always responded well to playful parenting. DS2 sometimes needs a serious voice.

All of them have been more likely to listen to me if they a) feel closely connected to me, which usually means doubling down on the affection, play and stories, and b) I empathise with the tough feelings while reinforcing boundaries.

A child having meltdown after meltdown just sounds really dysregulated. Tired? Hungry? Coming down with a bug? Getting over a bug? Your day from hell is nearly over - for the rest of it I would just cuddle up with a big pile of books or a favourite film on.

Coming down with a bug sounds likely if this is out of character.

Oh god I hope it's not a bug in its way. It's been bloody awful tho today!

He is struggling with doing as he's told/asked these days anyway . I'm not sure what I can do to make him start listening. It's so frustrating