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Behaviour/development

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"You don't love me any more..."

2 replies

daddydaddycool · 17/12/2013 12:10

Hi All

We're just entering this lovely phase in our 5 yr old dd's development ;-)

Whilst this is probably standard, we're also beginning to get darker stuff along the lines of "I don't like our family" and "I'm scared you're going to bite/hurt me". If I was a stranger overhearing that / teacher being told that, I'd be pretty concerned.

When asked in the cold light of day, i.e. after the tantrum, why she was saying increasingly nasty things she said "I wanted to see what your face did", which I thought was a pretty logical, honest and understandable response. I told her that next time we'd pull funny faces if she said nasty things - unlikely to be massively helpful in reality!

Whilst it's obvious that she's testing us for a reaction, any thoughts on how to deal with it other than by ignoring her at the time? It's difficult to let some of this stuff go.

Yours
Bemused Dad

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Rosencrantz · 17/12/2013 16:13

Pulling faces give her a reaction, this is unhelpful as she will keep doing it for attention.

I'd respond with the truth. Then ignore the behaviour.

'Youre going to hurt me' - 'no I'm not, daddy loves you' then ignore ignore ignore.

Just another stage I'm afraid!

daddydaddycool · 17/12/2013 16:38

Rosencrantz - thanks, it reiterates what we thought.

We wouldn't really pull faces, the consequences would be dire...I only said that to her this morning as a throwaway comment in order to make light of last night's 'onslaught'!

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