Toddler

[Sarahbrown123]

Can anyone help with my 3 years terrible behaviour. It's, getting worse by the day and I'm at my wits end with it. The perfect child in nursery but the devil at home. I just don't know what I'm doing wrong. I've tried the naughty step, taking this away, everything you can think of.
He hits and smacks. He destroys. I can't even put it in to words just how bad it gets. He used to go to bed happily now that's a massive melt down. He won't stay in he's bed he's screaming and crys. Normally goes on for an hour. I just don't know what to do and it's making me very sad.
My daughter wasn't like this and she's had exactly the same parenting from me.
I can't cope with it. I'm at breaking point 😢

My first thought would be is he overtired? What time does he go to bed and does he wake up naturally in the morning?

Some of my friends find their kids just explode when they get home from nursery too, because they've been holding in a lot of their feelings during the day but feel more comfortable letting it out at home with their parents. Sorry it's not a solution but perhaps another way of looking at what's going on. Perhaps he's finding his days a bit overwhelming and this is how he's letting it out?

Hey,

I would try bedtime at: 6.30pm, bubble bath before make him sleepy, bedtime story etc etc. (Use the reward system I've spoken about below)

Also introduce a rewards chart, you don't necessarily need a big reward.. it could be earning stars for the week to go somewhere nice on the weekend or a new toy whatever you like. This seems to help a lot of the parents that ask me for advice.
Reward positive behaviour and ignore negative behaviour!
When they've done something like help tidying up or be nice, clap and say well done. Children love being praised. With smacking and hitting, ignore do not shout, just console the victim "oh no are you ok; did that hurt? Let me give you a cuddle". If they continue to have a tantrum, try picking him up and cuddling him, one he's started to calm down, sit on the floor with him and start breathing in and out with him. Teach him to do this and when he is calm "darling now tell me with your words what the matter is, mummy will help". Sometimes children learn these behaviours from children they watch or something they've seen on TV.. reduce any screen time before bed and get him to do some exercise in the garden.. make a fun obstacle course until he is tired.

Hope it works out for you soon mummy; don't stress, this is perfectly normal! You're doing a great job!

Agree with pp probably tired and hungry.

With DS I sometimes had to put him in his room and stand on the other side of the door holding it shut until he calmed down.