Help! 4 YO behaviour 😭

[MammyandAva]

Hi, I am looking for some help please!

I am a single parent (father not involved at all) and am seriously struggling with my daughters behaviour 😭

Although we are currently in very unique circumstances, I have on a number of occasions prior been concerned about some of her behaviours.

She acts out A LOT! And will do anything for attention (although she is an only child)

She does things that she knows will get to me and laughs constantly when I try to discipline her

-tells me I’m a bad mum (daily 😭)

• she hates me
• no body likes her
• she doesn’t want to live with me
• I should give her away

She has now started spitting in temper and throws things in a rage over the smallest of thing

She has no form of authority! It doesn’t matter who tells her off, she just laughs and carry’s on doing what she was doing

I have tried:

• positive parenting
• sticker charts
• rewards
• naughty step
• putting her to bed
• removing tv and iPad
• sitting down and talking to her

She has nothing at all that I can bribe her with, she’s doesn’t care if she doesn’t get the reward and has no reaction if I tell her she can’t have it because of the way she acted.

It’s really starting to get me down now, especially as I have no break from it at the moment due to lockdown.

I have a nephew with ADHD, and feel as though she displays many of the symptoms - I have also found that tomato based products (anything) makes her very very hyper

Any genuine advice would be welcomed

Thank you 😊

Sounds like she needs counselling. You can probably be referred through GP

At the age of four, why would she need counselling?

Have you been consistent with your use of boundaries?
has there been a divorce/death/trauma that she was witness to - if so play therapy might help.
How is she at nursery/pre-school?

Sorry therapy was what I meant. She sounds like she's experienced some kind of trauma, rather than the usual headstrong child

I am very consistent, and if anything I'm probably quite strict, due to the fact that I'm doing a degree, working and am a single parent with no extra support.

My grandmother passed away 4 days before Christmas, but other than that there is nothing else - she's never even witnessed an adult argument

She lives a very fortunate life.

The school have not said anything, but that behaviour has started to be shown to her dance teacher (she dances 3 days a week on zoom at the moment)