DD 4 and a half constantly repeating her desires on holiday

[napkinbear]

It's just constant. From the moment she wakes up it's ' I want to go to the pool ' the moment we hey outside, it's I'm hot or 'I want to buy goggles'.

We've been up for 30 minutes and she's already asked to go to the pool 100 times maybe.

She has other stuff she can do, toys, iPad, drawing stuff, TV. But she just repeats and repeats and repeats what she wants and I keep explaining, we are getting ready now, having breakfast and we will go after that etc. but she just won't asking every 30 seconds.

Eventually I snap sometimes and it feels mean. She still continues to ask though anyway, after maybe a 5 minute break. It's annoying.

What can be done ? Is this just normal for her age ?

She’s out of routine and probably doesn’t have much concept of time.
My DS is like this and I understand how irritating it can be! We try to just repeat eg yes, at 10.00 (and showed clock when younger). You could draw quick pictures on a notepad - dressed, breakfast, drawing while we pack up, pool.
She might settle more after a day or two, although DS is 12 now and every holiday is the same (and weekend, come to think of it). Less ‘I want’ and more ‘are we..?’

Set an alarm on your phone, show her and say when it goes off we’ll go to the pool. And then ignore every request and direct back to the alarm. She should hopefully settle down!

It's normal. She's just excited.

She has other stuff she can do, toys, iPad, drawing stuff, TV.
I mean... come on! That's normal, boring, every day stuff she can do at home but a pool, when on holiday so in a new place that she can never come back to... absolutely no comparison. It's very worrying that you can't see the difference.

Get in that pool. Create good memories.

Do as others have suggested above as a first port of call, particularly the alarm, but then if she continues let her know that every time she repeats herself that 5 minutes will be added to the timer.

That tends to be quite effective for mine.

Do you have any paper? I'd draw a visual timetable - playing, breakfast, get dressed, pool etc and keep directing her to it. She can tick off each activity. I like the timer idea too.

My similarly aged DD does this. I agree it's immensely annoying! I think they don't have much concept of time etc yet so it's all a bit "have thought, say thought". I've had some luck with explaining what we're going to do first, then getting her to tell me what I've just told her. Makes her activily think beyond the thought that's going round her head. Although, then it can be followed by "we're going to the pool after breakfast! Aren't we mummy! First breakfast, then the pool!" Over and over...

Very normal for her to be asking and very normal for you to be contemplating throwing her out a window.

The timer idea is a good one. Helps her visualise how long she has to wait as they have no real concept of time.

You will spend the next few years saying things like "asking me over and over again won't make me go any faster" and "my answer is the same as the last twenty times". Y'know, turning into your own mother.

Haha yes she does that. So funny 😆

She’s excited! Who has time for breakfast and waiting for people to get dressed, that’s boring!

I think she's probably just excited. Its out of the norm having a pool to play in, (I assume) its a novelty. Everything else she has to play with is things she normally has so they arent as exciting.
Just get on with what you're doing to get the day started, I'm sure she'll calm down as the holiday goes on.

The timer idea is good and definitely worth a go.

Shes 4 and excited, this is all very normal behaviour, annoying maybe and definitely relentless but very normal.

I got her edurino for her iPad and she loves it! I got it especially for the holiday so there is another novelty.

I can highly recommend it btw.

She was playing a bit this morning but still asking about the pool.

She's excited it's very early to be listening to her chirping away. I'd just say after breakfast then let her talk on and on just repeat after breakfast.

Can you set a timer/reminder on the iPad so it can show pool time.?

As a seasoned parent of many years. Always go swimming first. After breakfast! Then the whole day doesn’t revolve around when are we going swimming? Is there still going to be time for swimming?

I’m 58 and can still remember the frustration of my parents’ (in my view) incredibly slow progress in the mornings and failure to be sufficiently enthusiastic about going to the beach/zoo. I feel your DD’s pain!

When ds was that age the first few days I accepted we'd be up and at it early.

Because by day 3 he'd be tired and laying in and by the end I'd be the one willing him to wake up so we could go for breakfast and get out and about 😂

Parents totally ruin holidays 😀

Awww she sounds excited!

Could you get her excited about breakfast maybe if you're in an all inclusive type place? Do they have traditional food from the country she could try or waffles/pancakes/ things she doesn't normally have?

Just repeat "I want never gets". She needs to learn not to demand

Really? She's on holiday and by the sounds of it super excited. Don't be a kill joy, adding time onto a timer until she can do the one things she wants to. 😔

I’m with your DD. I’m nearly 40 and I wake my husband up at about half 5 on holiday because I’m so excited about all the things we are able to go out and do that we can’t do at home, and I don’t want to waste a minute. People who are slow to get ready are frustrating. 😂

Hotel breakfast is on my list of things I’m buzzing for though.

@Goatinthegarden 😂 same here.

This is me on holiday too! Sod the iPad. Quick breakfast then pool.

How about a quick swim before breakfast to go with her keenness?