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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Horrid almost 3 year old

8 replies

Hev2008 · 17/06/2011 21:33

My son is driving me nuts with temper tantrums. He had an almighty fit just because he had to get out the bath tonight. He kicks, spits, punches and scratches.
He also scratches other children at toddler groups and pre school to the point where I am reluctant to take him now. This has been building for several months although it has spiraled since his baby brother arrived in April.
I have started a sticker chart today which has helped a bit until tonight.
Anyone else having this trouble & any ideas please?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Gemtubbs · 17/06/2011 21:43

I would say, maybe try putting him in a safe place when he has tantrums, and then ignoring him and letting him get on with it until it's over. I appreciate that this might be difficult with a younger one to look after as well. My ds used to have tantrums alot when he was younger, but they got less severe and less frequent as we just ignored him and let it blow over. Just to show him that tantrums aren't going to get him any where. Sorry I don't have any better advice than this. Hope you're ok.

Original poster

Hev2008 · 17/06/2011 21:56

Thanks. Its so hard ignoring him, but I must try harder!

OP posts:

Gemtubbs · 17/06/2011 22:10

Sometimes distraction can be good too if you can see a tantrum coming. Suddenly become very interested in what you can see out of the window and talk about it, or start playing with a toy. It might help him to forget about having a tantrum, and then he might join in looking out of the window or playing with the toy. I got this tip from my SIL who is a nursery worker. :)

Original poster

Hev2008 · 17/06/2011 22:13

Wort a pop. Thanks!

OP posts:

Gemtubbs · 17/06/2011 22:18

No problem! Been there meself and it is miserable. Hope things get better for you. :)

tostaky · 19/06/2011 21:52

DS1 has tantrums when he wants attention. so i give him a big huge cuddle when he starts one. when he calms down i explain him why he cant have xxxx or do yyyy and it works pretty well.
and it all seems much easier with ds2 to give ds1 a cuddle rather than explode with anger and threats.

MrsJamin · 20/06/2011 08:24

He's probably upset about the baby arriving and being displaced somewhat. I would try and make lots of time for jut you and him, for eg what DS1 really likes is to go swimming with me when I can leave DS2 with DH. Quality time together (without the distractions of the baby) is really valuable. But yes distract and teach him to calm himself down. We have
The bottom step as time out which DS1 has been known to take himself off to when he's losing it!

Hdl · 26/06/2011 13:27

HiI thought I should post on this thread becuase I too have got a 3 year old who was giving me so much grief - kicking, hitting, temper tantrums about anything, just being generally really grim - making my days really hard (not helped by being 6 months pregnant). However, one particualary bad incident which involved me putting him in his car seat to 'calm down' and then ringing my husband for moral support and him having to leave a meeting to give me that support (!), resulted in his collegue telling him about Omega 3 supplements, which he gave his 3 year old daughter when she started having similar attacks of virtual mentalness. Feeling that anything was worth a go I went and bought some chew sweetie type vitamins, mainly Omega 3 plus other stuff.
That was 3 weeks ago and a week ago I began to notice a significant change in my sons behaviour. Whereas before he would start to get het up about something and then that would escalate to mammoth proportions, no matter what distractions I put in his path, now - although still having 3 year old issues with things, he seems much more able to take a deep breathe and calm himself down before it goes too far. For a week now, I haven't had any major temper tantrums that have left both me and him exhausted becuase he just doesn't seem to get to that stage. I know its only been a week, but I wanted to find out if anyone else has had experience of this with Omega 3 - I'm wondering becuase it does help brain development, whether its beginning to connect prts of his brain that honestly seemed to be unconnected.
Fingers crossed this is now a permenent thing and although I don't doubt we will still have our good and bad days, I'm hoping that the good will carry on outweighing the bad. Could it be that Omega 3 is a valuable aid to an emotional 3 year olds development?

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