HELP My ds's behaviour is causing me great stress

[Rexy]

Hi is 4 in June and the last few nights has climbed over the gate on his bedroom door, then gone into the bathroom and emptied shampoo into the bath.

Last night he squirted toothpaste every where and stuffed toilet roll into the sink.

We are at our whits end. Shouting doesn't effect him and I have now removed his two favourite teddies and managed to jam the bathroom door shut.

What can we do?

Sitting him in the corner and removing any treats ( which his 5 year old sister gets)work but he's coming upto 4 soon !!!

Help pls

R

Sounds normal little boy stuff to me. First, put everything out of his reach.

Then you can have the conversation about the rules and the consequences. I am not saying don't discipline him, but, you have to add in reasonable precautions too.

Removing the temptation will make everyone's lives easier.

Fit a proper, high bolt to the top of the bathroom door.

Sorry - had to go and rescue burning dinner.

My boys were exactly like this. They are both charming young men now. Ds2, who was the absolute limit for making a mess, and exploding thngs, is off to university to do a chemistry degree this year.

Generally speaking, IME, it is 50% curiosity and 50% attention seeking.

my 4 yr old drives me potty. apparently there is a testosterone surge around this age, which we're definitely feeling, but at least it will pass!

um, as for dealing with it. tryting to avoid it in the first place is my main tactic, and failing that we pretty much work with natural consequences.

realise this is difficult when what he has done appears to have no consequences for him, but I try and find one.
so.. number one would be that he had to help me clean up.
if that didn't work then I would tell him that if he wastes all the shampoo/toilet roll he will have to use the money in his piggy bank to buy more

Does he save this behaviour for you ? What's he like at nursery?

I would be willing to bet he is lovely at nursery.

IME a stairgate, to a nearly 4 year old boy, is a challenge. An open bathroom door, with lots of goodies within reach, is like a mini "toysarus".

He is not thinking "what can I do to annoy mummy", he is thinking " Gosh, I am bored, I bet I can climb that gate and find something fun to do. Isn't this squirty toothpaste amazing, I wonder how much toilet roll will fit in this sink, and , I bet this shampoo would look interesting if I poured it round the bath".

Try to see his life through his eyes, and it will make sense!