DS1 3.8 is bossy and arsey!!

[Nanoon]

this is the best way to descibe his behaviour at the minute. He is bossy, snappy and arsey quite abit lately. He is very articulate but if for any reason DH or I don't quite understand him he gets really snappy. We were out today and he was trying to sneak up on me and when i turned round before he got to say 'boo' he had a right fit. Also he someimes has a bit of an attitude when he talks to us (more befitting of a teanager imo) I guess this is normal behviour but i'm not sure how to deal with it. I always say to him not to speak to people like that or to calm down and talk nicely not whinning etc but it doesn't seem to make much difference. Gone is his sweet nature - will it return? How do i deal with it in the meantime??

thanks

This will pass - he has so little control over his life in general, and he's trying to assert what control he can.

Model the behaviour you want to see, talk to him nicely, stay calm. I wouldn't make too much of a fuss over the arsey bits.

Hormones! He's having a hormone rush at this age, masses of testosterone rushing round as he starts to become a proper little boy. My DS1 is going through the same thing - he's a mini teenager too. Perfectly normal but very frustrating at the same time. Does your seem to not hear you too? Wot... wot... wot... Drives me nuts, very difficult to keep calm

Great advice from NQC, ignore bad behaviour as much as you can and encourage/praise the good