3 Year Old Behaviour - Tips for dealing with it please

[Sunshinemummy]

DS is 3.1 and sailed through the 'terrible' twos with no real issues. Since he turned three it's been another matter entirely.

It seems he's normally pretty well behaved at nursery, but nothing DP or I do is right. He's constantly going into a huge meltdown about anything or nothing - this morning it was about putting his shoes on.

He says 'no' to everything, screams and shouts whenever we try to get him to do anything, and is generally not nice to be around. It's getting both of us down.

Does anyone have any suggestions to deal with it? It seems neither getting angry back, nor remaining calm, nor trying to distract have any effect.

for my 2.11 year old - sometimes - the 'when you're ready' idea works.

eg 'time for your bath now, DS'

NOO!

'well we do need to go up to bath, just finish what you're doing and we'll go up in a few minutes when you're ready'

DS (immediately) It time to go up to bath now, mummy

Ditto with shoes, clothes etc - sometimes being clear what needs doing but giving him a few minutes to do it in his own time, can work really well. Not always!

Reading all the messages its really nice to know that ur not alone in the daily battles lol i have 3 children 8 6 and 3 and yes my 3 yr old is a Drama Queen, i pick my battles, try and stay calm, try and distract her which works alot of the time and i count to 3 and give her a consequence norm go without something or sitting on stairs but i always warn her what is going to happen so she has time to change her behaviour. I also have and 8 and a 6 yr old but i have other serious issues with them, my 6 yr old has severe autism and speech and lang delay and has numerous areas that needs help and support and my 8 yr old is currently under assessmnet and maybe aspegers so its fun in our house LOL. I love to chat to ppl and i think it r imp to know that no1 is alone due to my son esp with his needs the holidays are the worst cos he cant stand change and lack of routine, we cant go out cos he cant cope and cant have friends round cos he v unpredictable and has lots of probs coping. So thinking about every1 out there xxx