Does anyone else's 4 year old argue about EVERYTHING?!

[Rosebud1302]

Oh my word it drives me insane. Literally everything is "no it's not!!!" Or similar. I could honestly tell him the sky is blue on a sunny day and he will say "no it's not!!"

It drives me to distraction some days 🤣

Anyone else's child do this?! Yesterday I was literally like will you STOP ARGUING about everything! Didn't shout or anything but made it known I was fed up with it. Any tips to decrease it gratefully appreciated.

It's the arguing 4's, so many of them are like this at this age ime.

Remember it takes two to argue so don't engage with it wherever possible. Change the conversation to something else, preferably something positive. Start with a question or ask them to tell you something so they can't possibly go straight back to arguing.

I think it's and attention/learning how to continue a conversation/testing boundaries thing, you have just try to teach them that arguing gets no attention, but a more constructive conversation will continue/be fun.

It is one of the most frustrating phases though, much worse than the terrible twos imo!

Not yet but then we've just hit the why phase which is incredibly irritating. I answer a few then just ignore him 😅

@NuffSaidSam you're absolutely right. I'm so stubborn I try really hard not to argue with him but when it's something so blatantly not true I struggle 🤣. Which I'm aware is very ridiculous for a grown adult. Must try harder.

@TeddyBeans oh yes we still have that too. It's all great fun 🤣

Yes. Anything he doesn’t like or disagrees with it met with tears and whining too. And an exclamation of ‘naughty mummy/daddy’. It’s fucking exhausting tbh.

Mine is 7 and is sooo contrary. It’s deeply irritating. She always has to find a reason why I’m wrong! Especially when I’ve asked her to do something and she’s explaining why she shouldn’t…

I’ve taken to answering mildly ‘thanks for the offer but I’d rather not have an argument right now.’

’thanks but I’m not interested in arguing, so you’ll need to put your shoes on anyway.’

’impressive reasoning but we’re not arguing right now, so let’s just carry on with the walk.’

You dont argue with a 4 year old.

Wow, this is my four year old!! Thank god its not just him! My other kids weren’t like this but he’s driving us absolutely bonkers! 🤣

Solidarity to anyone else going through this!! Everything I ask or say is met with "no it's not" or similar. It's rather exhausting.

@bellac11 lovely helpful response there 🙄