I have a beautiful little girl who used to be the most mellow and well-behaved child on earth! She is talented, fun, and intelligent beyond her years. But, she is really having some extreme behavior problems since I started going to college. She throws the most horrible fits and has started to act out very violently towards myself, her dad, and her little brother. She screams, runs away in stores, tries to get out of her car seat in the car, breaks things, and hits us and her brother. I have tried everything that I can think of to deal with these issues (including punishments and rewards systems). I try to spend every moment I can with her when I'm not in class to make our time together special and to show her that I'm still here for her and devoted to her and her brother, but it just doesn't seem to help. PLEASE, can anyone give me any hints or has anyone been through this with their children? I need all the help I can get. Family and friends have given me plenty of advice and I've tried it all - - - I just can't seem to make any headway. Help, please:)
My mother-in-law suggested that I start taking her for LONG, LONG, LONG walks. I started two days ago and so far it is the absolute best thing ever! It's been like a miracle cure for her out of control behavior. It gives her a constructive outlet for her energy and it lets her have mommy time with me. (And it's great for both of us) So thank you to everyone for your wonderful ideas and support!!!
Hi J.,
Your 4 year old sounds like my 2 1/2 year old son. If and when you get any helpful hints, I'd love to read them. I'm like you, I've tried every angle and nothing seems to work. I'm frustrated too.
My email address is ____@____.com if you get any helpful hints.
Thank you very much and good Luck to you!
S.
She is just testing her boundaries because things have changed. Children hate change. Just keep to your normal rules and enforce unruley behavior as you always have and try to keep her life as scheduled as possible. When she gets used to this she will calm down again. I went trought this with my daughter when she was four when we moved accross the country. It took about 4 to 6 months for her lovely demenor to come back but it did. She's just a little confused. I'm sorry I don't really have any solid advice. Good luck!
Hi J.!
I don't know if I can help but some questions popped into my head when you said you went back to college. Where is your daughter during the time your gone? Is she in daycare or a family members house?? Is this a new arrangement? If its not a new arrangement then its probably not what I am thinking.. but I have to throw this out there because my husband came from an abusive family. He was left with his grandfather who was abusing him while his mother went back to work.. and eventually he started acting out. God forbid anything like this happen to your child... thats why I am mentioning it. Good Luck and I hope you solve the problem soon!
T.
check out the book "parenting with love and logic"
it sounds to me like she is just anxious about you being away BUT your response to her acting out has let her spiral out of control from it. once kids start having bad behavior they seem to feel bad and then keep having bad behavior..
all kids are different- but i've had so much help from the philosophy in this book- my 4 year old is SO much better since we've been reading it -and using it.
I wish you the best.
