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Original poster

3 year old impulse control

6 replies

Lovemy2babies · 04/04/2011 18:54

I feel as if my 3 year old dd has almost no impulse control lately and is extra lively.

We used to be able to sit and chat but she can't do this anymore without licking me or wiping her boggers on me or scream laughing.

All I want to do is cuddle her and tell her I love her.

She gets very excited and very silly and will do what I have asked her not to even though 5 seconds ago she agreed she won't lick me anymore.

I get very annoyed with her.

Is impulse control something learned? Will she grow into it? Or is intencially winding me up?

She is very good at sitting still when we read books or do crafts.

OP posts:
ttalloo · 04/04/2011 19:00

I think she'll grow into impulse control but you have to help her on her way. I don't think that a three-year-old can intentionally wind you up, not in the way that an older child can, so I think you need to be patient, and perhaps set some boundaries - if she licks your face, she won't have TV, perhaps, or there will be no visit to the park.

DS1 has just turned four and still loves licking my face (which I hate) or crawling all over me like I'm a soft play area. He can control it more now, and does it perhaps on a weekly basis now, but I think he gets possessed by a desire almost to get inside me, if that makes sense, and extreme behaviour like that lets him express it.

Original poster
Lovemy2babies · 04/04/2011 19:11

She has consequences for other actions but not for licking or bogger wipping.
I shall try to inforce.

I get what you mean about being in you like they have to be ssoooo close. I sometimes want to be that close to so I do with cuddles but she doesn't sit still enough for them!

I miss when she was a baby and I could cuddle her all the time and now even her body is different long and bony.

I need to learn how to connect with her as a 3 year old. Iyswim?

OP posts:
charmum3 · 04/04/2011 19:14

attention seeking i feel, my ds2 was a licker, licking him back soon puy him offxx

charmum3 · 04/04/2011 19:14

put

thisisyesterday · 04/04/2011 19:18

they do learn impulse control... slowly! i would say most 3 year olds have little to no impulse control lol

i would just say "i don't like that" and put her down if she does it.
or tell her what she CAN do... ie, you can stroke my hair, you can kiss me, you can hold my hand...

Original poster
Lovemy2babies · 04/04/2011 19:22

The idea about what she can do is great!

She would love me to lick her back and it would be a never ending game of my worst nightmare...

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