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DS1 (4) acting up in front of others

13 replies

fattybum · 05/09/2010 16:51

I have posted about this problem before, but didn't get much response, so here goes....

Ds1 has always been a "handful", but more recently has seemed to really improve in behaviour. Doing what he is told a lot more, taking no for an answer, lots less tantrums and generally much more reasonable. I have actually been enjoying spending time with him and ds2. BUT often when we are around other people he starts to behave like a spoilt brat! He just gets so silly. Today we had gone out alone but he managed to befriend a little girl, so we went to the playground together. He was good at first, but then he gets into his annoying mood throwing bits of grass at me, talking in a baby voice, saying things like "ha ha, she can't climb". Because it's all very minor and subtle, it's hard to really tell him off, but it's so embarrasing and irritating. On the way home I asked him why he always does this with other people and he said because they will "look after me from being told off". He went straight back to being lovely after, telling me he was sorry. Is it just his age and he will grow out of it, or is there something I should be doing?

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PixieOnaLeaf · 05/09/2010 17:10

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fattybum · 05/09/2010 17:16

I did tell him it wasn't very nice to speak to the girl like that and he stopped, but the other things are hard. He wasn't throwing handfuls of grass at me, just strands, and it was whilst I was chatting to the little girls mum. I didn't think that his behaviour was bad enough to warrant leaving, but we did leave shortly after anyway because I could see it was going down hill from there! Why does he just do it when other people are around? what does he get out of this behaviour other than me being cross with him?

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PixieOnaLeaf · 05/09/2010 17:20

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fattybum · 05/09/2010 17:24

No I didn't tell him, was trying not to let him know he was getting to me! Maybe i'm getting it all wrong. Just don't want to make a fuss about small things, but maybe that's what I should be doing? He does seem to think that as soon is someone else is around he gets to play up! Maybe he just needs to know that whoever we are with, I will still tell him off?

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Suzithefloozy · 05/09/2010 17:38

I can relate to the baby voice simply because I apparently did it. I think I still sometimes did it when I was 10.

I'm sure it's normal. I'm not still doing it now anyway.lol

Is he quite dramatic?

LeninGrad · 05/09/2010 17:47

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LeninGrad · 05/09/2010 19:50

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fattybum · 05/09/2010 19:56

He isn't particularly dramatic!

DS2 is almost two. They get on pretty well, normal bickering and hitting each other here and there, but doesn't seem overly jealous of him. I try to make sure he feels just as loved as ds2, but he doesn't get any one to one time without ds2 there. He is improving in so many ways, just feels like this one thing isn't going away!

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LeninGrad · 05/09/2010 20:04

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fattybum · 05/09/2010 20:12

He can be self conscious, didn't like having his photo taken for a while. Also has started to get embarrassed if he's cried in front of someone. He's starting reception on Wednesday. I'm kind of hoping it will help. He hasn't been to nursery or pre school because there were no nice ones with places available.

I can't wait for it to change because it does put me off socialising a bit!

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LeninGrad · 05/09/2010 20:17

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fattybum · 05/09/2010 20:22

Thanks, that's reasurring to hear! Like I said he is really improving, but it makes me sad when people get to see this horrible side of him when I know what a lovely, considerate boy he can be!

I have seen other four year olds name calling and being spiteful, so I know it's not unusual, it just feels terrible when it's your four year old!

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LeninGrad · 05/09/2010 20:25

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