how naughty is your 3 and a half year old on a scale of 1-10?

[rhetorician]

had a bad couple of days with mine (defiance, refusing to do as told, stropping when she doesn't get what she wants etc), so I would currently put her at about 6-7 (with 10 as the top), but I do seem to spend the whole day nagging her, telling her off etc. It's exhausting. What about you?

She is perfectly behaved at nursery so either there is hope or I am a crap parent...

Marking place and feeling so grateful its not just my dd2 that is like this, I start off with such good intentions, and it gets so tiring, she is so stubborn.

She is a 5-6 mostly

DD3 is a 5-6 really. She is absolutely head strong, with an answer for everything. The thing is, her ability to rationalise and negotiate is scary!!

However, when she's irrational, she is so completely irrational that she's bonkers. Bonkers time is not fun time.

Oh thank god it's not just mine. My dd1 is 3.7yrs and I actually took her to the doctors to check her ears as I'd convinced myself she must have glue ear and couldn't hear me.

The defiance, the wining, ignoring requests, fussing over food, demanding snacks, refusing said snacks, tantruming, kicking doors if sent to her room, bedtime resistance, bath time resistance.... Sigh and then there's the constant battle to get her to put her baby sister down!!

Play school say she's a dream, playing at others houses she's a dream but it's like she saves it all up for me on her return. I've tried 123 counting but when I hit three I get a raging tantrum over every single punishment. I am consistent but I have to factor in that the punishment must be realistic whilst preempting THE RAGE.

She's been an 8-9 most of the holiday but this week has been 5-6.

I feel suddenly much better...mine also irrational and bonkers too Lougle, especially when tired. She does non-sequiturs better than anyone else I've ever met

Oh god, glad its not just mine. My dd is driving me insane at the moment! All I hear is "but I don't want to". Also she asks a million questions but I don't even get to answer her before shes either asked the same question again or moved on to the next one!

I also have 15 week old as (how easy are babies???!!!) and she just won't leave him alone!

Mostly she's about a 5 or 6 I'd say but sometimes can get to about an 8 ish when tired and having a screaming fit!

3.5 year olds are soooo much smarter than I thought they were. DD never misses a trick. Shes also already playing me and her dad off against each other. And when shes feeling particularly mean she calls me her SMs name.

Aufanie- I feel like that too. I feel like its my fault.

15 week old DS, not as!

babies, piece of piss. Sadly, they too will be 3.5 one day :(

I totally get what you mean worrying is it poor parenting/lack of attention/unhappy child but honestly I've had days where dd has been to the park, had sweets, done some painting and then explodes because she wants ice cream right this minute! Get it for me right noooooow.

Then I think she's had attention, praise, treats etc and then I start worrying where this spoilt brat springs from. That then turns into maybe she gets too many treats, attention, free play and I've ruined her that way. I can't win, there's no middle ground.

When do they get to an age where you can reason with them?

And yes 6m dd2 is easiest child ever!! How did I find one baby so hard before?

Mine spat on the floor the other day! Im still reeling! I would say at the minute 6-7.

Me too wannabedomesticgoddess, I find it hard to shake the feeling I'm doing something wrong

DP always has to point that out to me DoctorsWife. Giving DD everything under the sun doesnt help either.

Thing is DD was such an easy baby. And I knew it. So I am probably going to have a difficult baby this time (due in nov) right bang in the middle of this phase. I am dreading it :(

DS was an easy baby too!

my dd was quite a tricky baby too. Spits because she knows it bugs the hell out of me...

DD was a horrendous baby, and is a horrific toddler (2) so maybe by 3.5 we will have a well behaved child that sleeps all night and is delightful company. Who wants to place bets? The stroppy massive refusalps, awful awful aggressive behaviour, and major meltdowns are in full swing but hampered by lack of speech.

Oh yes, Mine too! I have been 'baby' so many times today, played I Spy early doors this morning, had a picnic (actually got an ant in my pants) let her stay up with her big sis etc ut still get crying if she has to eat her crust, go to bed, have a bath, etc etc etc but she is so sweet I kind of forgive it all when she is in bed. Good job really!!!!!

Right this minute: 0 (but only because hes napping).

On average probably about a 6 - 8.

This thread has made me feel so much better!

Yep, 3.5 yr old on level 9!!!! He cant be left for 5 mins, he has a face of an angel but is a absolute terra! Wicked in every way. Sneaks about and denies anything to do with it.

No fun at all especially with DS1 who winds him up.

I would say there are days when I hate him! I call him all the worst names under the sun (not to face) followed by OH when joins in. We love them when they are asleep!!

Signing off as an unhappy parent who sees no fun at all with bringing up children.

bacon god I know, sometimes I really wonder why we did it to ourselves; my mother has just left and instant improvement in behavior after several embarrassing stand-offs - e.g. telling dd about 20 times to put something away, her refusing (with dramatic foot stamping) before she gave in. Since then, she has been quite good. I suspect she senses my mother's disapproval and plays up to it. Judging by this thread she is not off-the-scale naughty, just pretty normal for her age. Not sure whether to laugh or cry at that revelation!