Why are 3 year olds SO DIFFICULT?

[Daffodilly]

Is there a genuine developmental reason for the hideous phases they go through?

I have no idea but DS is a right royal pain in the neck most of the time.

Bet I miss him though when he goes to school.

God yes - school a.k.a. the light at the end of the tunnel!

Gosh, I do not want to hear this, I have found terrible two's horrendous!

my DD is 3 today....does it get worse

Oh no. I love this age. DD was 3 a couple of weeks ago. She is funny, sweet, good-natured, caring, gentle and just the most curious and fascinating little person. I'll really miss her when she goes to school.

3 is a walk in the park compared with 5

I find my 3yo fantastic company.

The bossiness and contrariness are hilarious.

He's also kind, sweet and with a massively infectious lust for life.

Shall exit this thread now, as I just know I'm getting on your tits.

I really don't know but BLOODY HELL 3 was a NIGHTMARE!!! Much harder than the two's in my experience.

I have heard it called the threenager and it is very apt.

Have to say, since DD has turned 4 she has been a lot better and really is generally a bright sparky happy kid (who can still be an awkward madam but not at all what she was).

I feel like DD (3) is now the person she wanted to be when she was a frustrated, stubborn little baby. Honestly, I love this stage so much after such difficult infant stages.

Three-nager just about sums this stage up. I really hope there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

I have to say that 4 was the best year with my DD, I really loved that year (looks back nostalgically)

3 has been the most challenging age by far for both of mine

2s were a doddle in comparison

I loved 4 with dd1. And 5. Starts to go off course again at 6 though

Oh I have alwaqys said this - 2 year old no problem, 3 they are still that really tantrummy way but answer back more = harder work. Gets better at 4imo.

3 is the age of "when she was good, she was very very good, and when she was bad she was horrid" My DD is 3.8 and can be by turns enchanting, funny, loving, stubborn, contrary, defiant, and completely impossible.

DS was never like this - but is now an impossible grumpy confused hormonal 7.5yo so I have my fingers crossed that it is one or the other and that DD will sail through the 7-8yo 'phase'

Its the rollercoaster of emotions that gets to me.

One minute they're the best company, the sweetest, funniest, happy little person. And then..... the contrariness, the tantrums, the strongest opinions EVER!

agree with lostark skipped terrible twos and troublesome threes and hit the finikity 5's

my 3 yr old took himself off to the kitchen the other day where he loudly pronounced that "nobody understands me". Teenage angst already! He is a royal PITA most of the time - his most irritating habit at the moment is answering 'no!' to everything. He's started doing it at nursery now too. 2 was an easy age in comparison...or maybe I have forgotten what it was like?! Roll on 4...

My dd is 3 going on 13 months, does not ask for things nicely, just demands it and goes into a tantrum if its not there quick enough. My dh and I are constantly reminding her to ask nicely saying please and thankyou, telling her off but to no avail. Oh no mumbar please dont. She is beginning to settle down though, her understanding of things is getting better.

I find my nearly 3yo both a delight and a nightmare. I think if he didn't make me laugh so much and wasn't so kissable I would have to give him away! I think as a second child he is particularly bad as he copies his 6yo brother who is finding his independence.

I am glad it's not just me. I have identical twin girls who will be 3 next month and at the moment they are a nightmare. Any attempts at getting them to do something, or stop doing something against their will results in them flinging themselves to the floor and screaming and kicking or making ear-splitting screams (which can silence a whole pub garden).

They stay on the naughty step, but generally just pick up where they left off afterwards. And of course they behave impeccably for strangers (the first time anyway).

My wife's embarassment threshold is much lower than mine though - she often leaves whatever activity she's attempting when they kick off while I just take a "they're nearly 3" attitude and ignore them until they calm down.

I heard the expression 'Queen Three' here before and that rings so true in this house at times!!

Glad it not just my dd then

Because they are in training for being 4 year olds....

I discount the phrase terrible two's. It's terrorsome three's and fearsome four's that you want to be carefull of. IME (have 3 up until now) the two's are fine, it's the three's and four's that are the problem. Tantrummy and wilfull, irrational and naughty. Gah save me now.

My dd is 6 and still has tantrums (but I can rationalise) my ds1 is 3 and a pita, my ds2 is 7 months and a pita lol. Up until 2 both of my dc's were angels. 3 is worst age by far.

my ds is 3.5 and until the last few weeks he was an absolute nightmare - even my friend who is a psychologist said he was at the extreme end of defiant! But something - and i have NO idea what! - has happened in the last few weeks and he has suddenly chilled out and become really quite pleasant and even quite compliant. It really is like having a different child and i feel a bit disorientated but (tentatively) relieved.
Has anyone else had this experience? does it last?!