Does anyone else have a 3 year old that does this?

[totaleclipse]

dt1 (3) is completly obsessed with doing everything for herself, me and the rest of the family, its good and very sweet but when I am in a hurry it can be a bit annoying, she insists on loading and unloading the washing machine, putting everyones shoes on,mopping the floor etc etc, she follows me around and refuses to let me do anything because she wants to, even if I put something in a cupboard she is there holding the door gettig ready to shut it, dont get me wrong I think its great that she wants to help, but she really does want to do everything as long as she can reach, I praise her for it, but am a bit worried sheis going to far as she has a major tantrum when I say I will do it.

Dd (2.9) does this. Sometimes I say to her "its mummy's turn this time, you can do it next time". At least that gets me over half of the obstacles, of couse the draw back is that half of the time it is her turn too!

Also poor dt2 likes to help but usually only when asked, if I ask dt2 to do something, dt1 will push her out the way so she gets to do it, so now I often whisper to dt2 to do something, but when dt1 notices shes not a happy bunny

totaleclipse my dts are like this too, dt2 loves to help, dt1 less so, but it is irritating - they are 3.5 and both girls too so lets hope its a girly twin 3yr old phase...

My DD is a bit like this but not as extreme. I have set aside specific jobs that she does and we make a big deal of her when she does 'her jobs'. She seems satisfied with this (at the moment - anything could change eh?).......

yep, she is also obsessed with winning, courtesy of over competive dh. she cries if i get to the front door before her cos she has to 'win' and if i mention in passing i need to wee she rushes to get there first.

Chevre

Also sounds like my DD - 'I WANNA BE THE LEADER!!!!!!'.

Sound familiar?

oh yes. Just when you thought the Terrible Twos were hell on earth .

DS1 is very fond of saying 'I'm in charge' ATM . Or, 'I can't come with you mummy cos I've got jobs to do'.

Oh yes DS is a real barger

Pushing in front screeching

"I want to do it I want to do it" and then having a meltdown because I haven;t let him pour out his breakfast cereal or open the garden gate or something.

But he can be quite sweet too, the otehr day he emptied the bin for me while I was hoovering (his suggestion)

It's only ever on his terms, though - woe betide I actually suggest he tidies up some toys/

Terrible twos didn't really happen for us but over the last two weeks we have been experiencing exorcist like tantrums at the flip of a switch and also very bossy/cheeky backchat... Looks like it's troublesome threes!!!!

Exhausting though....

Completely normal but can be really annoying...
ds3 is nearly 3.5. His repertoire includes "I want to do it by myself" - ie getting in and out of the car; great except when I'm in a hurry or we're parked somewhere busy

getting food from the fridge. Rather than letting me get it for him he'll drag across a bar stool and perch on it to get things from the higher shelves

dressing (big fan of this even though he's quite slow)

Generally if I shortcicuit his efforts to do/decide something !. I get a meltdown 2. He unravels my help as appropriate and does the thing himself anyway, taking longer.

Oh the rocky road to independence...

butting into converstaions...grrr...eg we meedd from her school bus. He's had my attention most of the day, but won't let her speak to me sometimes about her day. Will interrupt by shouting "Now I'm talking !"

Maybe early days but I see a very slow improvement in his behaviour over the last few weeks..

dd 3.5 ran around the Wetland Centre this afternoon with no knickers on and her dress held sky high throwing a wobbler because her Dad tried to wipe her bum after an impromptu pee....she wanted to do it herself (suddenly, having showed on interest in doing so till now)

Admittedly, she was really tired - not normal behaviour for her - but independence to the extreme is definitely the order of the day since turning 3.

tuppy, interrupting, oh YES: dd taken to saying loudly and firmly 'EXCUSE me, Mummy, I want to say something now' ever since being asked to say 'excuse me' and not just interrupt. She thinks they're magic words that grant her instant attention, I think I must have explained it wrong...

Oh, and 'sorry, Mummy, but I'm BUSY'

DD insisted on me doing everything for her. Even now at school, she always plays "the baby" while her best mates fight over who gets to role play her mummy!

So although DS independence is sometimes a pain, mostly I'm just SO grateful that he even wants to. Trust me, it's the better of possible extremes.

I find DS will often let me help after he's tried to do something himself for a moment. Kids just take time, there's no avoiding it.