Very disobedient (can’t think if a better word than this) toddler!

[whywonthelisten]

I have 2 boys; eldest is 5, youngest is 2.5. Eldest has always been reasonably compliant. His default position is to want to do things correctly; he’s always been good at listening in activities we take him to. He’s not perfect but he’ll typically do as he’s asked.

His younger brother is very different. He seems to have very little interest in doing what he’s told or following rules. He has exceptional communication skills and if asked he will accurately repeat what he was supposed to do and also confirm he didn’t do it (all in a very performatively sad voice). Example - I’ve asked him not to jump off the sofa and he did it anyway, immediately after I’ve told him not to. He seems very contrite but will do it again 5 minutes later. I’m unsure what consequences are appropriate for a 2.5yr old because I never really had this experience with the older child.

Any words of wisdom for dealing with very non-compliant toddlers?

I find telling them what you do want them to do rather than what you don’t want to do is sometimes more effective. So ‘ sit on the sofa’ or ‘climb down carefully’ rather than ‘don’t jump down’.

I also had a very easy dc1 and a wild dc2 who came along and rang rings round me 😅 She’s a very sporty but generally chilled out 16yo now

My first was also compliant and my second is also a little whirlwind - it's wild 😂

@Bloodycrossstitch@Lottie6712uts quite humbling isn’t it? 😂

My DS2 was the same at this age (I also had a very compliant DS1 and DD) - he was so strong willed and determined and active. He's now 16yo and not ADHD. He was just being a toddler! The attention seeking thing may be part of it, I guess the younger one has to fight for your attention a bit more.