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Behaviour/development

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Best books for how to raise pre-schooler / 3-4 yr old

7 replies

Zenlifeforme · 19/06/2022 13:51

Can I get book recommendations for raising a 3/4 year old?
Our DD is becoming rude to family members and my friends’ children, and I want some direction on how to tackle it.
Thanks in advance.

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PritiPatelsMaker · 19/06/2022 19:34

I've not read it but Kate Silverton's book, there's no such thing as naughty gets good reviews.

How's her speech and understanding and how is she at Nursery?

Mattieandmummy · 19/06/2022 19:59

How-to talk so little Kids Listen and Raising Girls are really helpful. Sarah Ockwell Smith's Gentle Parenting I also find pretty good.

What do you mean by rude? Could it be frustration?

Zenlifeforme · 20/06/2022 12:34

Thanks both. She’s amazing speech wise.

They always say she’s been good as gold at nursery.

I will look up those books, thanks.

for record this is an example of what she says.
At a weekend when we had lots of family together:
(my mum): we just need to get the bed out for granny (paternal grandmother)
DD: (shouting) it’s NOT granny it’s Grandma!
my mum (jokingly under her breath): I think DGD has it in for me. (as she is always correcting or talking like this to her).

Paternal grandma: bye DGD, I’m going now
DD: hmf. (Frown).
me: are you not going to say good bye DD?
DD: (bigger frown) No.
me: (sigh)
DD: (shouting): I don’t want to say goodbye! (Lies down face down on sofa). This happens every single time PDG leaves our house (we live near her so see her more than my mum). PDG just starts saying ‘it’s fine don’t worry, she’s just strong willed.’ But I don’t think this is true or ok.

othertimes she’s shouted in earshot of her aunty: I don’t want aunty X to look at me. Or whilst sitting near my dear friends little child, 2 years younger and earshot of her mum too: I don’t want her (good friends DD) to sit next to me. (I adore this little girl as I do my good friend so I felt insulted and hurt when she said that. As I do when she is rude to my mum).

I explained to DD after all of these that is not nice to say things like that. I explained a granny is another name for grandma to give her benefit of doubt. I also said you can move away if you don’t want to sit near someone or be in their view.

I asked her yesterday ‘do you know what polite means?’ She said ‘thank you, yes please’ (she’s so cute). But maybe she doesn’t know it also extends to HOW we say things? And that people have feelings? Perhaps It’s about teaching her how to regard others and the vehicle to do this is politeness?!

Her aunty, grandma and my mum say when it’s just her and them she is good as gold, and let’s them hug her etc. she said to my mum when she was alone with her (when I was at hospital giving birth) ‘I really love you DG’. And when we are going to my mums in the future she constantly asks when we are going and says ‘I miss DG’. I even filmed her saying it and sent it to my mum.

Maybe she’s just a child and it’s normal? But I hate it and I don’t want it to keep happening…. But I don’t want her to be a people pleaser either.

me and DH are both sensitive people and def givers. Very caring and kind types. So of course we are Uber kind to her. I wonder if that’s ok with adults but I need to be more stern or find more gentle discipline type methods with our DD.

After all it’s not like I’m telling her ‘off’ just guiding her towards what is good and proper ways to act….

it’s just how I do that. That’s where I’m a little stuck.

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Mattieandmummy · 20/06/2022 22:01

Well I think partly she is only little and doesn't have the brain development to control her impulses or the social understanding of what's polite to say or not say.

I would try to find a humourous way into unpicking her refusal to say bye for example. So you could wonder out loud if she can say bye in a really squeaky voice or in silly voices? Or like a dog? Humour always seems to work best with my DD.

With regards to your friends little girl, do you think she could be picking up on the fact you really like her and is a bit jealous or worried you like her more? I'm not suggesting you do but little people are funny little critters and do get some big worries about all kinds of things.

Zenlifeforme · 21/06/2022 10:02

thanks for your input. I havent tried silly ways no, she will blow a raspberry at her (if we all say it). I’ll try that in meantime while I read the raising girls book.

I don’t think it’s jealously no with the younger child. She isn’t very enamoured by smaller children I think. She loves older boys and girls, so I think it’s a classic kid thing.

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Mattieandmummy · 21/06/2022 11:49

You're welcome, it's flipping tough these years.

The how to talk so little kids listen book is a good one for ideas to get them to essentially do what you want without it turning into a battle of wills or tears all round.

Zenlifeforme · 22/06/2022 06:16

Ooh ok, another one I’ll try 📖🤓

it is so flipping hard isn’t it, and as a society we don’t properly acknowledge it imo or adequately support parents.

Hey ho, at least we have mumsnet.

thanks for the chat support xx

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