Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

How to deal with 4 year olds bad hair days

8 replies

Othersideofthechannel · 08/02/2007 09:06

DS sometimes has bad hair days - nothing goes right, nothing is simple. Eg on a normal day, when he says his feet are cold (tiled floors) I usually say 'well you know where your slippers are' and off he goes. On a bad day he'll want me to get them and if I don't - he'll tantrum or sulk for ages which makes me feel really angry or guilty.
The easy option would be to pander to his grumpiness to avoid upset for both of us eg offer to go and get his slippers straight away because I see he's having a bad day. But I don't want to raise a boy who thinks because he got out of bed the wrong side everyone will be his slave!
My question is, how much do you expect from 4 year olds? Are you flexible with your expectations when you know they're having a grumpy day or are you completely consistent - treating them more like an adult.
He's having one today - the snow is too cold so just stood in the garage and watched while DD and I made a snowman before school!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
throckenholt · 08/02/2007 09:20

don't pander to it unless they are ill - otherwise the rules are the rules and that's it.

eviletc · 08/02/2007 09:24

definitely treat like normal - if they get upset make it clear that they are they are the one in a grumpy mood and spoiling their own day, not you (iyswim)

eviletc · 08/02/2007 09:25

sorry rubbish typing

Othersideofthechannel · 08/02/2007 09:29

I haven't been pandering to it but have been feeling mean not to. Thanks for you input. Feel less guilty already

OP posts:
Othersideofthechannel · 08/02/2007 09:30

What about when they're tired because of a shorter night of sleep than normal?

OP posts:
eviletc · 08/02/2007 09:45

if there is an actual reason for them to be grumpy then maybe pander a leetle...but again make it clear ie "i am only fetching your slippers for you because i know you are tired...when you are not tired i know you are really good at doing it yourself"

that came out a bit of a mouthful, but you know what i mean...?

Othersideofthechannel · 08/02/2007 09:51

That's exactly how I want to word it! Thanks. Sometimes it's so hard to take a step back isn't it.

OP posts:
eviletc · 08/02/2007 09:55

oh take it from me i can hand out the good advice left right and centre, but as for taking it myself...

happy to help, good luck

New posts on this thread. Refresh page