my 3 year old is driving me up the wall - please help!

[hayleyhew]

The last 2 weeks my 3 year old boy has got so naughty. Dont get me wrong he has never been an angel but he has gone off the scale now. You ask him to do something - the simplest of things like stop trying to eat his soup like a cat - he shouts no and carrys on. I have tried everything to reason with him. He seems to have gone hyper - talks none stop. If me and his Dad try to talk to each other for 1 minute he has a fit and wont let us. He wants every minute of our attention. Any advice?

I don't try and reason with my 3 year old much. I tell him twice and if he doesn't stop he goes in the 'naughty corner' and stays there until he says sorry. Or I count to 5 slowly and usually that does the trick as he gets a pre naughty corner warning. I find I have to get him outdoors a lot as he is one of those boys with bags of energy. I also try and give him a bit of concentrated one to one attention every day (also have dd 18 months and work 3 days a week) which helps. Don't know if any of that is helpful but hope so!

It is - we are emigrating in 2 months and I plan to work 1 or 2 days a week - to be honest cant wait for the break!!!!!!!

Agree, have you tried the naughty step? Is there anything going on at home that he might be picking up on? Stress, unhappiness etc?

Agree with PF, Get your parameters in place now and dont be swayed. It will be easier in the long run.

When talking over you and dh. Stop and tell him to wait until you have finished and continue your conversation even if he continues. This takes loads of patience but eventually he will realise what he has to say is not as important.

Does he know about your emigration plans? Never underestimate how much a 3 yearold overhears and understands.