'You're not my friend'

[PatsysPyjamas]

Agh. This seems to have become my 3 yr old's catch phrase. Literally any time someone displeases him in the slightest, out comes the old friendship threat. It's becoming like an involuntary tic! He seems to use it at home at the moment (I asked nursery). Apart from it being really irritating to me, I'm worried he is going to start upsetting other children. I've told him we don't say things like that and explained why. What can I do? Will he grow out of it or do I need to call up my inner Supernanny?

(On the plus side, he has stopped hitting out at me in frustration - is 'you're not my friend', in fact, progress? )

If I dredge my mind back far enough, i'm sure Prince William told nursery / pre school staff that he'd have their heads chopped off when he was king if he didn't like them. The staff were in hysterics.

I would just ignore it and carry on with your conversation:

We can't go out if you don't put your shoes on
you're not my friend
Will you go on the slide first or the swings?

Just keep on ignoring.

Ha, well at least he's in good company!

I hadn't actually thought of ignoring. Thanks for that. I have been trying to explain that it makes people sad, but perhaps he's too young to be compassionate. I don't know, my older DD never said anything like that and when it was said to her a couple of times was very hurt.

You are very kind. I tell mine that I am not his friend, I am his mum heartless

Its just his way of letting out his frustration or anger. Try not to get irritated - I would not always ignore it - I would acknowledge he is mad about whatever and just tell him that of course I am ( or they are) still his 'friend' but just cannot or won't do whatever it is he wants.

It's normal. Ds's stock phrase at this age was "can you go away" every time I walked into a room

My 3 year old DS's is " your not my best friend anymore"
I usually say " well your still mine, because I will always love you, even when I don't like what you are doing"

His 3 year old best friend says " I'm going to chop you up into little pieces and throw you in the bin" !!!!

Must be pretty normal, just find a way to ignore/ cope and he'll move onto to some other irritating personality trait soon enough!