No!!

[LadyPen]

My DS is now 3+ and had suddenly decided that the blanket answer to everything is 'NO'!. Anything from "are you hungry" to "do you want a story", "please pick up your toys" or "time for bed". It is like someonehas swapped my lovely sweet little by for this terror on 2 legs!! Everything feels like such a struggle. Nothing we say or do makes any difference. Is this just another phase or are we doing something wrong? Help!!!!

It a phase!
Been there, done that, got the bloody t-shirt with a huge NO on the front!

Just a phase which I'm finding comes and goes. DS is 4. DD hasn't reached this bit yet (but I suspect she's going to be wprse!). My only advice is to not react. So...

DS: Refuses to put his coat on
Limelight: Ok but Daddy, DD, and I are going out and you need to put your coat on if you want to come.
DS: NO!
Limelight: Ok then (whilst busily putting coat on DD and myself and being very noisy about it!)
DS: NO!
Limelight: Ok then (whilst opening front door, walking up the garden path with DD and DH.
DS: Waiiiiiittttttt!!!!

Doesn't always work but it 's pretty reliable. Basically you need to act as if you really couldn't care less what he does!

If there's a time pressure, it's a case of giving lots of warnings that somethibg's going to happen, staying calm and quiet, and putting an endpoint in which makes clear that you will act. So 'ok that's fine but in 5 mins dinner time is over and I'll take your food away'. That sort of thing!

I hope it's a phase as DD 3 is driving me bonkers with it too! I tend to repeat back to her what she's said no to to get the proper response. So:
Me: do you want to go to the park?
DD: NO!
me: you don't want to go to the park? Ok then.
DD: I DO want to go to the park
This and sulking are making for happy times in our household. Especially as her 1 year old brother has started to copy the petulant 'no' repeatedly.

Thanks guys glad to know it is a phase. I will persevere and not pay too much attention to it. Looking forward to the next 'phase' .... Not!! Lol

The way it works in this house is
Me - OK, dd, eat up your pasta.
DD - NO!
Me - OK dd, don't eat your pasta. Don't eat it. If you eat it, I will be very cross. No, don't put it in your mouth. Noooooooooo! You are a very naughty girl. OK, don't eat any more. Put it down, I am getting very cross......etc.

It generally works every time.