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Behaviour/development

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Why does she do this? I am looking for a psychological reason. I'm interested, not worried.

7 replies

YunoYurbubson · 01/07/2010 10:45

Dd and I are having a nice afternoon pottering about. Dh is coming home this evening and we've made him a cake while her little bro is asleep. She has been reading her new magazine. I'm doing a bit of housework. All normal stuff.

This morning at breakfast dd was colouring with crayons, and I said that if we remember later I'd show her how to make a scrape drawing (you know, felt pen covered in black crayon and then you scrape your picture into the crayon with a tooth pick so the felt pen colours show through).

She remembered just now and so we sat at the table together and I showed her a little one and gave her paper, pens, crayons and sticks to have a go herself.

"I DO NOT LIKE THAT WAY OF DOING A DRAWING" she says, deliberately tears and crumples my example, throws it on the floor, "I DO DRAWINGS A DIFFERENT WAY" and storms off.

WTF? I told her that ripping someone elses picture was not a nice way to behave, and she knows I'm a bit cross with her about that, but other than that I'm just shrugging and thinking well please yourself then. I am not about to offer alternative entertainment so she's rolling about the sitting room carpet feeling cross.

What went wrong? Am asking because I am interested, not because I am upset or particularly wanting tips on dealing with her (though of course don't hold back if you have something!)

She is 4.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
YunoYurbubson · 01/07/2010 10:58

Actually, don't answer that. She's just fallen asleep on the carpet. She must be coming down with something.

Poor little chicken.

OP posts:
Lynli · 01/07/2010 11:00

Maybe it was too complicated for her and she felt frustrated. Some children are very set in the way they think things should be done.

Al1son · 01/07/2010 12:58

Ah bless.

Could be chicken pox or something. Both of mine were foul before they got the spots.

At least it explains the picture episode.

I guess she felt sad and thought it was about the picture. Poor thing. I hope she's better very soon.

YunoYurbubson · 01/07/2010 14:12

Lynli, you are right, occasionally she is afraid to try something just in case she gets it wrong, but generally for things rather more taxing than scraping a bit of wax off some paper!

In this case I think she is just coming down with something so not herself.

Thank you for the sympathy Al1son. She has had a long sleep and woken up a bit more cheerful but she doesn't smell right so definitely not 100%.

OP posts:
mamsnet · 01/07/2010 14:16

LOL at the smell! But I do know what you mean!

My (slightly perfectionist) DD can do that too.. maybe leave it for a few days and try again.. DD would probably present it as her idea after a few days to mull it over!

AccioPinotGrigio · 01/07/2010 14:32

The process required for scratch drawings is a little convoluted and maybe a bit difficult for a 4 year old to undertake and achieve on their own. She might have felt a bit defeated by it.

ILoveGregoryHouse · 01/07/2010 14:40

Yes, it's quite complicated - a number of quite precise steps to be done in order. Maybe she was overwhelmed, especially if she's off colour. My 5 year old is very particular about the way things are done too and can get get very cross if things aren't the way he imagined they should be.

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