7 year old ds with attitude problem! Please help!

[lydiane]

My 7 year old is generally a good boy. 80% good, 20% pickle!
Over the last couple of years his behaviour is more and more challenging.
Just lately he argues with everything I say. If I say "its a lovely day", he would say "no its not!". He will also curl up his lip and pull agro faces!
I really try to ignore the behaviour, but it is gettig past that now.

my question is - do i punish him every single time he does this? or ignore?
I praise him when i catch him in good behaviour.

any advice would be helpful. thanks

i have a 6dd like this so your not alone, ive tryed the punishment route but she is past careing. So at the moment i am trying to ignore the behaviour because she is getting all the attention and i think that is her aim?

Chin up i really do no how you are feeling. xx

I think ignore ignore ignore...Usually I would be punishing but it seems like this is just a way of him flexing his verbal muscles and as you say, he is a really good boy on the whole...so well done you!!

You could carry on the conversation in a matter of fact way rather than ignoring everything if it was a possibility..as in the example you said, you could say, "Oh, why don't you think it's a lovely day?" and just see what he says. He may have a reason for his feelings...then again he may just want to be grumpy! Either way, it is just so normal at this age that I wouldn't worry too much if it isn't causing too many problems.

Pick your fights and focus on the ones that matter. Stay calm and link unacceptable responses from him to a consequence. Like turning off the TV, denying him a dessert, anything that would matter to him. Warn him what will happen before it does, then he can make the choice.
Ignore all the silly baiting comments, he's looking to irritate you.

Much better put Mrs Poppins.

I'm afraid I don't have the answer but just to say I know exactly how you're feeling! I have a 8yr old ds who has been like this since he was 7 too. I seem to have tried everything and sometimes it will work for a week or so then we are back to square one Will be watching to see if anyone can come up with some new ideas.

Good luck

Hi I have four girls and my third little darling is exactly like this. After her two older sisters generally doing as they were told, found her behaviour rather challenging. I agree with pick your fights, but the best punishment I have found is totally ignoring her after telling her off. Rather than rising to it and engaging in combat, totally ignoring her does not go down well at all. If she is not getting a reaction she doesn't know where to go next. She is miserable as sin in the morning on the way to school and as much as it pains me not to get more than a grunt from her have just had to accept that is her !!! Try not to rise to it , can't tell you how many faces being pulled I have pretended not to see . It's like that saying when she is good she is very good , but when she is bad !!! Good luck

How long is this hormone surge likely to last? My dd, while delightful some of the time, has to have the last word. It is almost like a personal challenge to her. Not just in an argument/disagreement just that she has to have the last say in a sentance, discussion or conversation. Generally I don't comment but sometimes I just can't help myself. She is quite surly toosometimes. Don't let it be puberty already, she's only 8.9