My 3 year old is broken!

[NannaNoodleman]

We got DS in 2015 and he has been functioning fine for 3 1/2 years.

Recently he's started to have monumental tantrums. He can't bring himself out of a bad mood and it escalated into the most ridiculous behaviour. It's like an entire system malfunction and the reset button isn't working.

We've switched him off and on again but the fault keeps occurring with alarming frequency.

Today he malfunctioned whilst leaving nursery. He kept spouting commands but wouldn't process when the command was completed and repeated.

His voice recognition software seems to be faulty too. He couldn't recognise the increasingly rankled tone in my voice.

He's also been complaining for foot pain - we're not sure of this is an excuse to get carried or if he's got growing pains.

In all seriousness though, what the fuckety fuck is going on with my child? Is this a normal developmental stage?

Sounds like the Terrible Two's have finally struck, albeit a bit late!

He's 3

Have you tried turning it off and on again? 😉

Sympathy, tho!

Threenager. I've heard about those. Still in the terrible twos here so have that to look forward to!

Mine is only two and the same story. Unfortunately can't find the receipt anywhere.

Urgh. Mine is like this and he's four this week!! Tantrums over every single little bloody thing. Best one was dad tried to put him in the wrong justice league Pj's tonight. FML.

This morning he exploded because he wanted to stroke the cat but she wouldn't move off her window seat!!

He had a complete system meltdown when some horses on the beach wouldn't come over to him!

His command centre says he's hungry but his power input hole refuses food.

3 is the worst. I think at 3 their independence system tries to override their compliance settings. Their vocal settings increase and their sensitivity triggers start sparking. Do not offer a broken banana at this stage, you will not be able to diffuse the tantrum on that for a week.

I suggest exposure to fresh air and long walks in a safe environment - not for the threenager but if you keep 20 paces ahead you'll be spared most of the whinging.

Good luck and

With you. The reset button is nowhere to be found on my version though...

Power input hole! 😂
My two skipped the terrible twos but turned into threenagers.
Four year olds are just as bad.
I'm hoping 5 is the year he becomes lovely again.

Have you contacted Nintendo customer service? They might try a full factory reset.

My 3 year old was a right madam. She got better and now at nearly 5 she's back to being a madam again. 4 going on 14.

My 3yo appears to be turning into a vicious dog. She snarled (proper, teeth showing, vicious snarl, Rottweiler style) at a lady in the cafe yesterday who'd told her she was sweet. The lady changed her mind and recommended a muzzle.
Her power input hole appears to have taken on the form of a black hole, and is inhaling everything within sight. Including her brothers tea when he blinked tonight.
Delivery service has refused to return her to the manufacturers, and the local service centre has no available service appointments, so I'm considering a kennel in the garden.

The power overload was better today but the verbal output system was on loop.

"Why is that horse standing? Why is that one eating? Why is that man buying milk? Why is daddy at work? Why is the engine making a noise? Why are you slowing down? Why are the lights green? Why do I wear shoes? Why can't I lick my sister's face?"

I'd love to take him on long walks to burn off some energy but his "feet hurt" and he ends up on my back but not wanting to be on my back but wanting a piggy back but not wanting one.

Yeah - they get v angry at the most ridiculous things: cutting a piece off food (eg cake, omelett, anything) so he can eat it. It’s bad because it isn’t ‘whole’?!

We find distraction the best thing to try (not always successful). Figure out the one thing he is obsessed by eg toy, tv programme, snack and offer it to calm him.

@Whitelisbon have you considered the muzzle? Let me know if you find one that is noise cancelling.

@SingingSands what's worse: a broken banana or a peeled banana? "I wanted to do it myself"

My DS3 did this. It was a bit of a shock as he'd been such an easy baby and toddler!

Something that has helped a lot was to consider him completely unable to process anything while having a tantrum - so instead we stop talking, make a physical connection (like a hand on the shoulder), and say something a bit namby Pamby like 'i love you and I'm listening'. Sometimes that's enough to get him to snuggle up and pour it all out. If he keeps escalating / hitting etc I calmly carry him up to his room, or restrain him if needed, repeat the namby pamby bit and if he's not ready to listen, touch him again and say I'll talk when you're ready.
I think there's no point getting angry or using words when they're in that state, so I just stay very calm and 100% make sure that they never get their way by having a tantrum. Sometimes when things are calmer I'll talk about it, and explain why we can't give in to terrorism (well, the toddler version!). We role play with soft toys too, the silly toy (me) has a tantrum and the mummy can't give him what he wants... So he has to teach the toy what to say.

He's coming out of it now, so maybe it works, or maybe it's age, but at least it felt like it was helping and kept me busy!

Standard 3's! The terrible twos are nothing in comparison! 😂

Figure out the one thing he is obsessed by eg toy, tv programme, snack and offer it to calm him.

In my experience this is a very good way to guarantee more tantrums...

I did namby pamby on the occasion of his 2 hour extravaganza! It's not incredibly practical as he has a two year old sister who requires input. And there's work and nursery and stuff.

I want my angelic cherub back... I enjoyed being smug that he wasn't a terrible 2!

😂

My 2 year old is broken tonight. He refused to nap, got him to bed tonight but then he woke back up and is currently in full on meltdown mode. Its not even a tantrum, just a proper meltdown. He's overtired bit apparently he knew better than refusing to sleep earlier 30 minutes and counting....