Pushing Boundaries

[MammyandAva]

My little girl is 3, has just started full time school and behaviour is getting worse.

I feel like she's constantly pushing and trying to test me.

She's recently started hitting a biting me completely out of the blue as this is not something she has ever done.

She's playing up whenever we go out even if it's popping to the shop, running off, throwing herself in the floor and screaming for no reasons what so ever.

When I tell her off she laughs at me - which can be VERY frustrating 😭

I have tried everything, the naughty step, taking things away from her, putting her to bed and even tried to ignore her none of which works.

I honestly don't know where to turn!
I am a single parent and Her dad isn't involved at all so I don't have any support.

Anyone have any suggestions please?

Full timed education is very tiring for a 3 year old. Does she get nap time at school? What time does she go to bed?

She has been in nursery 3 days a week for nearly two years and that was long hours due to work so I can't imagine it's her being tired, if anything since starting her new school she has been coming home very hyper.

She has a very strict routine and has done since she was born. She has a bath and 6:30 and then straight to bed.
Her nighttime routine is brilliant she literally goes straight to sleep with no issues at all.

She’s acting out with you because she feels safe with you. School is tiring and the class politics of dealing with 29 other children and teachers etc is hard work for little ones. Punishing won’t do anything positive. She needs time in, not time out.

I have noticed that she is brilliant with everyone else other than me which is horrible.

On my days off I spend a lot of quality time with her just us two, parks, walks, cinema etc

I try to do a new activity every week.

I feel as if though I am rewarding bad behaviour

Try reading some Janet Lansbury.

It’s about understanding, not rewarding or punishing.