Almost 5 year old does not listen!

Lunar_Eclipse

mrcow wrote: »

She's only five now, if you don't get on the case with it, you'll have no chance by the time she's eight.

Very true, I have an 8 year old! (What a bleedin' nightmare at times). Although personally I think 6 is worse. Depends on the child (and parent) I think.

Choice is good IMO. It helps children make decisions and learn the differences between good ones and poor ones.

Naughty step didn't work for me either. It caused serious hysteria that went on and on and on for over an hour. Being sent to the bedroom would do the same to my two. In fact, the more controlling and loud I am (eg shouting), the more hysterical and difficult they get. So calm and peaceful rules the mornings.

Also, I'm not sure it's good to constantly ask children to do things*. My eldest feels she is being 'nagged' if I do this and tbh, if someone did the same to me, I would feel the same. So I'm wondering at what age they remember to do most/all things by themselves without being reminded? Could there be a correlation between reminders and 'delay' in this area? An example from our household is that we pick Daddy up from the station every night at 7.15. The girls know this means 'straight upstairs/bedtime' when we arrive home. However they appear to forget this most days and start a game, switch the TV on etc. It annoys me that they do this, but I know they aren't deliberately trying to annoy anyone, just don't want the day to end. But the routine of the requests/reminders are so tiring.

* I mean 'get dressed/hurry and eat your breakfast/put on your shoes/clean teeth/brush hair/pack bag/find coat' etc etc - NOT that they aren't expected to do the actual things they need to and parents should do them instead!

Kaz2904

I forgot to add that we went out and bought DD a pink box for her bedroom just before she started school.
It's her tomorrow box so whatever she needs for the next day goes in it including book bag.
She then gets up and dressed before she leaves the room and brings it all down with her. It certainly made life easier!

fitzmum

Oh God, I can sympathise with you all.

DD is 5 and DS is 7. DS is as good as gold, quiet, will amuse himself and is gentle around people.

DD is like a bull in a china shop. She will charge at you and nearly knock you over, jump on your lap heavily, she is 'in to' everything like a baby would be - will reach up onto work surfaces towards knives, hot stuff, she puts toy make up over all her dolls, draws on cabinets etc - you name it - she does it.

She's loud, very messy - pulls out toys and refuses to tidy up. And cries to get her own way.

On the other hand in school teacher says she's a little angel, will sit quietly on the carpet. Does her work, reads brilliantly, is kind & considerate to others and generally is a model child.

Where did I go wrong? Some people say its what girls are like (handful etc) We try to be fair with both children but it seems that DD is getting away with murder and often gets DS into trouble and allows him to take the consequenses......

Kids - who'd have 'em