Does your child ...

[AllTheWayUp]

I have a very active and lovely soon to be 4 year old who I love very dearly!

I don't know if maybe it is my fault and my parenting skills, but I am worried I may have babied her way too much and done everything for her.

She has the attitude of a teenager sometimes, and I'm really struggling with it, or how to control it.

I get criticised by others about how I should teach her to not shout or whinge etc.

When I am not around her, she is very well behaved but as soon as I come she has lots of confidence and I guess feels she can do what she wants because mummy is here.

I am sick of hearing family members say that my daughter has no manners because she shouts here and there and maybe doesn't want to be hugged or bothered. She knows the first basics of having manners but it's the other stuff.

Any advise on how I can handle a 4 year old who behaves like she's 14 ???

You should try and ignore what family say, and focus on your own relationship with your daughter and the (long-term!) attitudes and values you are looking to instill in her, and what approach might help with that, rather than resorting to quick fixes to try and get judgemental people off your back. This is the second time I’ve recommended it today, but I really rate Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn.