At what age does difficult behaviour improve?

[flingaling77]

Please can someone give me some hope. My 3.5 year son is a very forceful character. He wants his own way and hits and kicks if he doesn't get it. Life with him has been unbearable at times and my husband and I don't cope well with his behaviour and argue frequently. I know this behaviour is common in boys and in the past, his speech delay hasn't help but his language has now improved but his behaviour can still be awful. Has anyone else experienced an improvement over time? I just need to hear it won't last forever.

Hitting and kicking isn't the behaviour I'd expect at 3.5. Does he go to Nursery abs if so, have they raised any concerns?

Boosting this post as the above comments seem unhelpful.

Does your DS go to nursery/pre school? I've found it helped my 3yo with speech and certain behaviours.

Know you're not on your own though, threenagers are a different breed of kid!

Has he ever experienced consequences of kicking off? Or do you eventually give in?
Are you and your husband united in decisions or is he playing you against each other until he gets his own way?

Can you talk to him about what is acceptable, what is unacceptable and reward what is good and punish what is not?

I’m not saying be brutal ! But content relevant to the moment and his ability to understand. I’d reward with chocolate or pudding after a meal, if main meals are difficult.

….. I’d also try lying on the floor kicking and screaming and see what his reaction is …… my son was horrified when he was three!! & asked me to stop ….. it was a conversation starter !!!