Have you got a stroppy, nagging 4 year old?????

[MilaMae]

Because I have and I really need somebody to tell me what to do so I can put a stop to it -now!!!!!!

It's continuous all day, everyday and is driving me insane. He is constantly asking me to let him play with the DVD player(no), let him go on the computer(no) or drive his cozy coupe down the road( I have been tempted to say yes to the last one on several occasions). There are plenty more things on the nag list but I won't bore you with them all.

He follows me around then strops like a teenager when I say no, then continues the winging and whining some more.

I manage to keep my cool all day but lost it big time this evening at bath time. DP says I went way over the top(shouting and I slammed a door) feeling really crap now. I apologised to him (dt) and told him why it happened. It bugs me because if dp had it all day he'd be shouting by bath time, a saint would imho.

Dt has got worse since he went back to pre-school, his siblings aren't like it at all. I'm wondering if he's tired or bored of pre-school. He doesn't start school until next Sep. He's quite bright and I wonder if he's bored at home too. I'm an ex teacher so he's not short of stimulating toys and games. To be honest he's not really into toys he just wants to read and do grown up things. He has said he doesn't like being little and wants to be a grownup several times. He sounds so much like a teenager sometimes it's scarey. I'm so busy in the day I also wonder if he's not getting enough attention.

Please advise!!!!!

Ours is full of no and contradictions. Three typical ones (there are dozens every day).

ds: where's daddy
me: he's in the shower
ds: no he isn't

me: and now we're turning left into such-and-such Street
ds: no we're not

me: would you like to say goodnight to your sister?
ds: no

And on, and on, and on.

Yep we get the contradictions (in a grumpy tone)too. Any idea how this particular phase is going to last????? How on earth do you keep sane????

nearly four and exactly the same feels like walking on eggshells slightest thing and we can have meltdown, yesterday it was the wrong cereal bar in the lunchbox, it is so trying. And whine he could win a gold medal in it, but he is gorgeous!

mine demads food a LOT

no, but stroppy, nagging 9 and 14 year old! Sorry that there might not be a quick fix!

I have a nearly 4 year old (birthday in November) who can whine and whinge a lot, especially if some very small detail of life isn't quite right. It can be very exhausting.

Sadly I have no solutions. Excwpt reminding myeslf I am rather older than him and that these things are important to him and that he is lovely lots of the time.

I have a stroppy nagging 5 year old

AND

a stroppier naggier 2.10 year old!!!!!

Whine, whinge, whine all day.

this morning I told them both I was glad I was going to work so I could have some peace!

ds2 got up at 5.30am this morning ready for action and didnt stop all day.

Im exhausted and going to bed now.

No idea what the solution is but shouting isnt good as it provokes a reaction in them and they shout back.

Hmmmm is looking like it could be a normal 4 year old phase, feeling slightly better as I'm clearly not alone.

Going to try a new tactic tomorrow, some time with me on his own. No idea how I'll shoe horn it in. but it's worth a shot.

Off to give him a kiss.

That's the only sort of 4 year old invented yet isn't it?

yes my dd is full of contradictions - she goes to great lengths to think of the opposite of what you're saying - its v v annoying - when she does this i just say whatever and look or walk away. She then usually says sorry very quickly. Its glad to hear others are like this as i dont get that impression when i send her to preschool - it seems she's the only awkward one!

I really think they're doing it for a reaction which is why after a phase of telling her off for arguing or contradicting and consequences for it i just ignore or say whatever and she knows shes done wrong (i think the contradicting is getting less but its a slow process!)