Co-operation with 5yo - help!

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DD is 5 yo. Life at the moment seems like one big row over everything and anything. Just a battle for any sort of co-operation, and then large amounts of sulking if she doesn't get what she wants. Can someone please help me try and see a tiny positive? It's really starting to get me down

Er... call Supernanny?

Seriously though, Ignore the sulking and "want" this and "want" that while rewarding the co-operation. If you crack, she'll just do it more as leverage to get what she want's. That's what my grandmother said anyway.

I just wrote a long reply and then it wouldn't let me post it so i'll keep this one short (er) in case the other reappears!

At 5, your little one will struggle to communicate with you about certain things. So if she's feeling tired or hungry she can explain that to you but if it's something less obvious to her, such as boredom, loneliness or stress (i'm using these just as an example) she doesn't have the life experience or the language skills to communicate that to you in an adult way. She will use behaviour to communicate instead.
It may be that your little one needs more stimulating activities in her day either physical or mental or both.
Or it could be that she is unsettled or unhappy and her behaviour is a sign that she needs your help.
The best tip i can give to any parent from experience is to keep talking to your children but more importantly, keep listening. Make time just for the two of you where you chat and hug and be friends.
Do keep rules and boundaries though, children need kind gentle discipline and to know where they stand.
Do nice things together, even if it's just brushing each others hair or going for a walk and chat to each other without any stress from either side. If she kicks off walk away and tell her calmly why. Tell her you'll chat when she's calm. Then go and do something else and pretend you're not bothered (you may need to get a mouth guard for this to stop you gritting your teeth too hard!!) When she does come to you and she's calm give her a bug hug and tell her well done.
Oh yes, and talk to her teacher if she's at school. School can be hard work at any age!
I'm not going to prattle on for too long as you may already know all this but if you need any more help or moral support just say.
Good luck x

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