Is this normal for 3 year olds?

[Attheparktoday]

I was a bit shocked at my DS behaviour today (3 in a few weeks.)

I took him to the park and another family were there with a younger child in a pram and a DS of a similar age to mine. My DS has had a bit of a thing about telling you which way to go recently but only to me / his dad, but he shouted at the lady with the pram ‘go this way! Not that way!’ I was mortified and told him quite firmly not to speak to people like that.

Then he started shouting at their little boy to get down. Again, told him to stop and that he’d have to leave the park if he carried on. He went on another piece of equipment and two little girls came into the park and he ran up to them telling them to get out I took him out of the park but honestly I am a bit concerned by the fact he thought that was acceptable - is this normal?

Is he being spoken to like that by someone else? Or witnessing it?

Yes.

Definitely not @Pipistrellus

@ASDADDY I am guessing yes, normal? Hope so … I do think he was very tired (not wanting to make excuses but to try to figure out the behaviour) he can be bossy with me but I was taken aback he was so rude to another adult.

As above - yes. 3 year olds don't know what is acceptable and what isnt, he's figuring it out. Taking him out of the park was a good idea, I'd have done the same

Does he go to nursery? Almost always children have seen the behaviour elsewhere, such as another child, but it ultimately comes from adults. If you keep modelling appropriate behaviour yourself and stopping him calmly then it should just resolve in time.

Yes completely normal!
My eldest went through a stage of thinking she owned the playground.

I think maybe leaving the park was over kill considering he's just figuring stuff out. Maybe try keeping it lighthearted 'don't be silly love, the slide belongs to all the children!' And then carry on playing. If it turns into a tantrum or hitting, then obviously remove, but otherwise I think it's normal and part of their social learning.

Yes at that age my son loved to tell others off. My favourite time was when he went up to a large (slightly intimidating) group of teenage boys who were messing about on the slide and he waved his finger at them and told them not to climb up it because it was naughty. To my surprise they looked very sheepish and moved to a different area of the park.

Yes I think it's usual. Mine has become very bossy and started to tell his little brother off.

Yes normal. He's pushing boundaries, copying seen behaviour, trying to influence others by his newly found voice and actions. Keep taking him to the park and keep teaching him how to behave he will learn. 🙂

It's normal. Three year olds are mad.

He probably has heard these things from you/nursery. I'm sure you don't use that tone, but you must tell him to 'come this way, not that way' or say he can't have that/touch that/do that. He's just trying out a bit of adult bossiness!

Thank you - such a relief!

@crostini i had given him a few warnings - it wasn’t necessarily to punish but I could see he was tired and also he really was being pretty awful. We did have a phase of pushing which thankfully stopped but now replaced with verbal abuse not so good!

So so relieved it’s normal. He does go to nursery and normally is very good but they did say he was silly on Friday. Again not wanting to make excuses but sometimes silly behaviour happens just before he gets unwell so I’m keeping an eye on him!