3.7yo who just doesn't listen

[rhetorician]

her hearing is fine. But she consistently doesn't listen, to the point where you have to say her name several times for her to pay attention. And the other thing that she does repeatedly is that you ask her a question and she doesn't answer - it drives me absolutely round the bend. Anyone else?

She is normal, small for her age, meeting milestones on target etc, nothing outstanding or strange I don't think, other than this kind of tuning out.

oh, just to say, her language skills are good - she has an excellent vocabulary, likes words, has good comprehension, starting some letter recognition etc. so it's not a language issue

Think its just a phase...I bet if you were offering her sweets or a trip to the park she would hear you perfectly?

Its selective hearing and DD 3.9 has it in the extreme :o

oh yes, the words 'chocolate', 'biscuit' and 'I'm putting it in the bin' seem to make it through ok. Doesn't it drive you insane though?

Agree it's selective hearing!
Drives me bonkers.

Little madam has the cheek to say to me 'are you listening to me, mummy?' when she thinks I'm not giving her my full attention!

Yes. But atm theres a lot shes doing which drives me insane.

Crying at the drop of a hat and having meltdowns over nothing.

Refusing to go and play in a room I am not in.

Constantly saying "But I dont want to." This one really infuriates tbh. Shes become such an entitled little madam.

I think it's just a stage too.

Their little brains are thinking about so many other things, all far more important than what their Mum is saying!

Just keep calm. Maybe get down to her level so you are speaking directly at her, she should pay attention then.

Btw my two dds are now grown up but I found age 3-4 ages far harder than the terrible twos.

They are becoming more independent and more grown up BUT they still really need that reassurance and someone there for them ALL the blooming time!

I agree Quick. I spent the whole "terrible twos" thinking it was easy and people make such a fuss...she was an angel.

It happened overnight on her 3rd birthday. I swear. My angel disappeared and the games began :o

When does it get better?

yes, 3 has been much much harder than 2 - not helped in our case by the arrival of dd2; I think the listening thing is often because the points at which you try and get them to listen they know already that it's probably going to be something they don't want to hear! And quick you are so right about the independence thing - DD got cross with last week for saying something 'I wanted to say that mummy'!

3yo here does exactly the same thing. Drives me insane! I find if I call his name in a singsongy way or call him something funny like hey little tiger come over here, he responds much better!

DD got put on the naughty chair last night for slurping.

Slurping itself was not the crime. It was the repeated "stop slurping" that got ignored. I think she was doing it more because I was telling her not to.

Now and again I do ignore her when she speaks to me and then say "its not nice is it?" but she doesnt get it so thats pointless really.

Honestly?

I'm not sure and they 18 and 21

No, they change and grow all the time, so just as you figure out what works they blooming change again.

I would say though, at risk of sounding like an old woman, that although they are exhausting at this age, do try to enjoy it as you never get that time again.

I know, the time goes so fast and you never get them back - not really wishing it away. Just wish she would answer my flipping questions (am a teacher, so not used to being ignored!!)

I dont wish the time away either. I want her to stay this age forever.

Shes just dressed herself in a green tshirt, pink shorts and a wooly winter hat :o

They are funny at that age aren't they? I love the imagination they have, all that made up stuff-imagine if we behaved like that as adults

We are currently dealing with the break up of the first serious boyfriend, all tears and heartache here today. We have lots of chocolate though so we should be fine!

Oh no Quick :( poor her.

I think I will stick with my little terror and her constant singing of The farmer wants a wife. Since 7am.

Probably a phase but when the phase goes on and on maybe think about getting her ears checked. The GP dismissed my concerns re DD1's hearing as attention seeking and a phase for 9months. When the magical "health insurance" words were mentioned, we got sent for tests and were told she has 80% & 50% hearing loss due to severe glue.