Help needed with stroppy 3.75 y.o. DS

[WaynettaSlob]

DS1 has always been had a very 'strong character'. 90% of the time he is loving and affectionate and adorable. 10% of the time he is a stubborn, argumentative, sometimes physical child.

Recently we have moved home (to a new area) which has meant that the DCs have had to join a new nursery and leave their old friends.

DS1 seemed to be adapting well, but over the past coule of weeks his behavious has deteriorated hugely: he is shouty, and disobedient and sometimes gets really angry.
Dh and I have tried ignoring himm, bribing hom, punishing him, all of which used to work in the past, but are now to no avail. It's got to the stage where any time we spend with him is being spent shouting at him / chasing him / telling him off......
And then yesterday evening we had lovely cuddles in bed, so the old DS1 is still there somewhere, just deeply hidden.

I am open to all sorts of suggestions and advice PLEASE!

Anyone?

Hi Waynetta, my DS1 (3y 10m)has moments like this where he goes a bit 'off the rails' for a while and gets really whingey and difficult and very tantrumy . I have days where it feels like nothing can please him and the whole day is just one battle after another. We normally find this happens when we get so caught up in 'family chores' that we forget to give him 1-2-1 or do stuff that is specifically child orientated.

I definitely think the move has triggered it - he's probably feeling a bit less secure than before. Can you have a day at the weekend where you do something for him -maybe a day out. We took ours to the aquarium and spent the whole day focusing on his interests and paying him attention.

Good luck

It's just a little reminder for him that you are still interested in his world and he doesn't need to play up to get your attention.

Thanks HippMummy - I do think he's feeling neglected - DH and I are tied up with sorting out the house in our spare time, and basically ignoring him . I had thought about just him and me doing something on our own tomorrow, and you've just confirmed that.......

thanks
xx