Ungrateful 3 year old

[ForeverBubblegum]

More a rant then anything else, but bloody DS. He just got a new (to him) bike. Was going to get one for his next birthday but as so much is still closed, I thought it would be nice to learn over the summer. So he's already doing well getting a big 'just because' present.

It's a second hand islabike, I know the brand won't mean much to him, but actually cost more then a new one at halford etc. And also much more effort because I've been looking out on Ebay/ gumtree for weeks to find one for sale locally, and within budget.

What do I get for my effort, "I wanted a blue bike, not a red bike", ungrateful little git.

@HunkyPunk

Totally normal, of course he wants his favourite colour.

And that can change daily!

It will change immediately after you buy any expensive item in a declared favourite colour, this is the law!

Of course the most important part about a bike to a 3 year old is the colour. He won't have a clue about the importance of position and weight or of the effort to get it. Thankfully the colour preference will likely change daily so at some stage he'll be happy with his red bike until he isnt again. Don't take it personally. He'll be unknowingly grateful when he's cycling around and his friends with heavy toy store bikes are still struggling to learn!

YANBU at all. I have a nearly three year old with very good understanding. If she plays up in the way you're describing, I explain, explain again, try to change the subject, but if it carries on the follow up is usually "Do you want X, or can mum put it in the bin?"

I think that kind of approach would horrify a lot of people on here but it seems like natural consequences to me.

Hi, I'm a mum of three grown up children and a grandma of a two year old who displays some of the behaviour you are talking about. I have never known anything like it as none of my three were like him. He refuses to eat, and throws his food all over. He won't do as he is told at all. He is destructive and naughty all the time. He breaks toys and hits my dogs. All we do is tell him off and stop him from doing whatever it is at the time. Boundaries are a form of security and so we spend most of our time enforcing them.
I think when children behave negatively they are looking for a reaction, and I feel this is a sign of intelligence but it is wearing and makes you wonder what the hell you have done wrong.
The answer is you have done nothing wrong - your child is learning about interaction and watching to see what you will do when he or she does this or that. You have to be consistent and clamp down. Never give in to bad behaviour but reward anything good he or she does.
You can initiate good behaviour by creating situations where you have all the control. Perhaps a game, or an activity or an everyday routine you can have fun with and let the child see that being good is better than making you cross all of the time. I expect you know this already. All children are different and just because they have a brother or sister who is not disruptive it does not mean they will be the same.
I don't think it's sibling jealousy, but it's certainly a way of getting attention and then you have to break the spell. Try to be proactive and not get cross if that is possible. Also find something to do that is special to that child and makes them feel important - that is if the child has siblings. All children need to feel valued. i have found that my grandson thinks the naughty step is a game so we don't do that now. We talk to him instead.
It's nightmarish isn't it !

Hope this helps.

Omfg get a grip they want and expect with no understanding at this age
What a got of a stupid uneducated parent comment. Go read a milestone book.
Poor child

I am assuming this was light hearted as you don’t expect a 3 year old to be greatful.. you are setting yourself for a lot of disappointment if you do

I know it's just how 3 years old are, that's why you're getting the rant not him. Just a bit frustrating, especially since red was his favourite colour a week ago.

Ps. I'm calling him a little git affectionately but slightly exsasabated way, and not to his face.

Just to make you all laugh , last year I took my then 3 year old granddaughter to Peppa Pig world on an overnight stay package ...which was a round trip of over 500 mile , took 2 days AL from work , by the end it had cost me nearly 600 quid in fuel, hotel, food, tickets , gifts and photos - I was absolutely shattered
When I took her home her mum said did you have a good time what was the best bit ? She said " it was ok but I wish we'd gone swimming ( she can go in free at my gym ) I didn't know if I should laugh or cry

When I was taken to the zoo as a small child, apparently the things I really liked were a duck and some ducklings - not zoo animals, just randomly there - and running up and down a small slope.

He's three.

I find name-calling him rude and unnecessary, to be honest. He has no idea what went in to getting this bike for him!

He's 3. He's not ungrateful. He's 3. That's completely normal and you are being unreasonable really to be frustrated by it.

I would be frustrated too OP. My DS is 4 and a half and can be so ungrateful. I hope it gets better as I felt at that age he's getting too old to be so rude and spoiled!