3 year old not listening

[feelinglike]

Hello everyone
I'm getting worried and need some sort of reassurance or just to hear your stories.

My 3 year old won't do anything he's told. He doesn't like changing his clothes or brushing is teeth so every morning is a constant fight.

He doesn't like having his hair washed as he hates water on his face and he hates going for a haircut. I dread going to the hairdresser as he will scream and shout constantly. There are no more hairdressers that are willing to cut his hair around where I live. I tried trimming his fringe myself but he won't let me do that either.

I don't know what to do. I try and avoid going to the shops with him unless I need one item and I know what I need to buy.

Will this get better? Is it just a phase?
He's my first 😊

When he is not listening is it because he is ignoring you or is it because he is unable to understand what you are asking of him? i.e. is he able to follow simple instructions?

He understands very well. He seems to just say no...all the time.

I know people talk of the terrible twos but the word threenager exists for a reason. My LO is very similar and I find having a clear and consistent routine helps. Also these days I walk away and go back a few minutes later.

It certainly passes, my son was exactly like you described, I stopped going places as I didn’t want a drama, he’d have tantrums all the time, do the opposite to what you asked him to do. Be consistent, have a routine, rewards and praise and over time it gets better. Mine got A LOT better by 3.5years.

Think of different ways of asking him to do something, eg get him to dress his teddy or doll (or dress them yourself ) !! No one likes to be COMMANDED to do things. You could make up some jokes while he's eating or play the goldilocks game (that worked well when I was a child minder \nanny. Get him to help you do the cooking or prepping the food. Give him proper choice.

I agree with babs about praise for every average/neutral bit of behaviour and ignore the negative if possible. He's still a baby remember.