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Help 4 year old driving me insane!

3 replies

nattnatt · 25/04/2014 22:30

My 4 year old DS is driving me nuts. His behaviour has suddenly changed. He was always the angel child but has suddenly turned into a demon! To make matters worse, my soon to be two year old, copies everything he does.
Every minute of the day he asks how long till the cookoo (we have a cookoo clock). I can deal with this especially as he's actually learning to tell the time from it.
His hands are constantly down his underpants fiddling. He's on occasion whipped it out in public thinking its hilarious. I've tried every wat of dealing with it.
He will do naughty things knowing his brother copies, revelling in him getting told off.
He has started to whimper all day long. Cry at stupid little things like not getting the correct type of biscuit. On top of the whimpering he'll go on to ask for cuddles, which on the outside seems really lovely but in reality he's only doing it after being naughty and trying to get around me.
He had finally got used to going swimming and actually enjoys it yet recently has gone backwards crying throughout the lesson. I hate sending him like that, not least because he is getting nothing out of it!
This is ALL day long. He has two younger brothers I also have to see to. I know he is probably demanding my attention and I really do try to spread myself between the three of them. The hands down the trousers thing and the insane whimpering are the two that grate at me the most. Please help, I'm losing the plot.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
JiltedJohnsJulie · 26/04/2014 13:44

Fiddling with himself is perfectly normal. Well my DS has fiddled with his since he first found it. Just ignore. Now my DS is older we just tell him to leave it alone or go and fiddle with it in his bedroom.

If he's whining and wanting cuddles, could he be unwell? How are his ears, throat and tummy?

Try this book or if you are really lucky your library might have a copy of Little Angels.

When he does whine, what do you say?

Icouldstillbejoseph · 26/04/2014 13:47

I'm no help but just started a thread myself - about feeling unable to keep my temper with a recalcitrant 3.5 DS.... I can identify with the grating and the whinging.
No help, just solidarity.

nattnatt · 26/04/2014 22:53

We have tried to ignore it unitil it got worse. Its more a habit now. He gets it out in public! The first time I was so shocked I laughed. Completely the wrong response but he then found it amusing. I've tried so many ways of dealing with it (washing hands each time, naughty step, taking away something he's into at any given moment etc). He has been ill (stomach bug) & admitted to hospital, I've explained about germs & even told him he's poorly because his hands are down his pants. Nothing seems to work.
I'm pretty sure he's not unwell now. He's usually pretty good at telling me in one way or another. But he has definitely got worse since the hospital stint a couple of weeks back re whinging. I honestly think he's asking for cuddles as he knows I like them. It's generally after he's been naughty or if one of his brothers needs me for something.
Thank you for the book suggestions I will try & give them a read!
IcouldstillbeJoseph they're so trying at times aren't they. I'm feeling the frustration x

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