where has my nice DS gone?

[choufleur]

The past week or so he's turned into a stomping, bottom lip thrusting, petulant, 3 1/2 year old.

we've changed tactics and stopped time out as it seems to have no effect and have started taking a toy away if he is naughty after being warned. He really does NOT like that. Tell me i'm doing the right thing. I've just sent a crying DS to bed as he had a fire engine taken away after bath time for throwing things at DH and refusing to brush his teeth.

You're doing the right thing if it works.
It's the wrong thing if it doesn't work, lol.

Okay, I would take away the actual things that he throws. Tie the punishment as closely as possible to the relevant wrong action.

It always helps if you can head tantrums off, see them coming and try to prevent it. Can you see a trigger to his outburst, looking back on the sequence of events this evening?

he was tired but has been very stroppy for the past few days. couldn't really take away the things he threw (one of them was Dh's shoe).

see how he is tomorrow. I'm sure he'll remember that his fire engine was taken away (although he can have it back in the morning).

Um, when does testosterone start to kick in?

I have an incorrigible thrower, it's tough to live with. I feel like we have tried all sorts and nothing has cured it. He's been flush with testosterone for as long as I can remember. Also very loving and very loyal. I feel very protective of him because he's just so emotionally immature, which isn't exactly his fault when he's only 5yo.

he's been a lot better today. particularly when i've asked him is he remembers what happened with his fire engine.

he's usually a lovely little boy. i suppose we all have blips