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Behaviour/development

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struggling with dds behaviour...

5 replies

tennesseyhennessey · 17/08/2012 13:54

DD is 5 she is not 'naughty' but her behaviour and attitude is driving me to nuts and im ashamed to say im starting to dislike her company. I know it is an awful thing to say as a mother but she is constantly shouting/screaming/crying.

As a background, she has always been very 'fiery' tempered. Wasnt the happiest baby (colic for months) and as she's got older hasnt really perked up! As an example today i had to take her and ds (3) to work with me this mroning. I told them both if they behaved they could get a small treat from the party bag shop next door (everythings about 20-25p). Ds has been good, dd on the other hand , screamed at me when a customer came in, hit her brother, whinged and moaned for treats/toys/sweets etc. When told no this resulted in foot stamping and more whinging!

My dad came to collect them, she said ashe didnt want to go with him but unfortunately she doesnt have a choice as i have work to do. They were both told if they stood nicely with GD whilst i gathered their bits they could take their scooters with them. DD started screaming saying she wanted to stay with me (not an option) after 2 warnigns she was told if she didnt stop she would no longer be allowed to take her scooter. She continued to scream so was carted off by my dad without it, screaming like she was being abducted.

Even my family have noticed how she reacts/behaves. Its hard to describe but when she's with my mum, sisters or my friends mum who all dote on her she is good as gold but not for us at home or for her grandad. Consequences for her actions are always followed through, like with her scooter, but she just hasnt learned that this behaviour gets her nothing! We go through this daily! So given this beahviour ahs been going on for 2 years daily i thought she may have learned by now!

What im worried about is that she is now saying 'why are you always nice to ds but not me' and 'why do you always tell me off and not ds'. He does as he's told and generally is a well behaved quiet little boy, i am aware this may change, but i think she thinks i favour him but i cant tell him off when he's stood nicely as i asked! We are a very close family (im one of eight) and see each other all together once a week. this behaviour has become more noticeable in the last 2 years as she will always have one of these screaming fits when we're all together. My BIL unhelpfully suggested we should smack to discipline, which neither of us agree with, but i have no idea how to get her to understand this behaviour deosnt get her what she wants.

I should go home later with a little something for ds, as they were both told they would get something if they behaved from next door, but im worried it looks like im favouring him. i cant win even though she was told, as she always is, there are consequnces for her behaviour!!

sorry if this is too rambly im at wits end with her!

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tennesseyhennessey · 17/08/2012 13:55

just to add they do get rewarded for good behaviour with praise and sticker charts, but she's not interested in it for more than a day or so!

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Sephiroth · 17/08/2012 14:00

How are you with noticing when she does nice things without being asked, like walking nicely or singing a song really well. If the rewards are all on your terms and she is a fiery sort she might just be kicking out against it.

I only say that cause ask my dd to pick her shoes up and it's a meltdown, giving her two small well praised jobs and then something she hates gets results Grin

Sephiroth · 17/08/2012 14:08

Sorry didn't see your post!

If stickers and rewards aren't working how about showing what a big girl she can be, if she's keen on spotting differences between your youngest why not give her 10 mins extra before bed, or allowed to use grown up felt tips- if shes naughty these get removed? Even things like being able to make your own dinner (cold beans on toast) are a huge reward because your behaving like a big girl

zoeymlucas · 17/08/2012 14:34

At 5 I would explain to her the reason why she gets in trouble! With my DS1 I explain with 2 plates the same that this showed the love for him and brother - exactly the same shape and size and NO child in my house was loved anymore than the other. I then explained that his behaviour was the reason he was in trouble and until he changed this punishments would each time get slightly worse as he knew better and was fully aware.

I would get DS his present as if you dont DD will learn that if she pushed enough he wont get either and thats not fair on hima nd he will learn he may as well act up as he wont get anything anyway! I would then sit DD down and get her to point out why she thinks she doesnt get a treat.

She knows you dont love her less but is just trying her luck and at 5 knows what is expected of her and what isnt so dont get sucked into the debate on 'why you dont like hre as much' as I found its a ploy to detract from behaviour and get 'round' us

tennesseyhennessey · 17/08/2012 14:47

Thank you for your replies!
sephiroth getting her to help with tea is a good one. We do rather cheesily have the 'happy helper' role in our house who helps set the table/clean away etc! So this would be a step up!

Bed time wise she already stays up later by 1/2 hour. Again last night she was told she could either spend the 1/2 hour playing with her friends outside but then it was bed straight away, or have her 1/2 hour inside then bed. She chose to stay outside then went in to meltdown kicking and screaming because i wouldnt allow a furhter 1/2 hour!

zoey the plate explanantion is brilliant, i will do that as i dont want her to think i love her less than ds.

I have just nipped and get him his dinosaur tattoo that he wanted and i will explain, as i do the reason why she hasnt had one!

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