thread: Is this normal 3 year old behaviour?

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  1. #1
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Sunny Qld
    14,682

    Question Is this normal 3 year old behaviour?

    Well - he's nearly 3 anyway!!! Couple of weeks off.

    DS has turned into the nastiest little boy towards his sister (DD1) he is just so nasty!!! I nearly threw a remote at his head before to get him to stop torturing her (I was holding the baby after a feed) because he was jumping on her with his little bean bag couch and she was screaming.

    He's just always torturing her - like, he'll follow her too close and trip her over, or will walk in front of her so she can't walk, and then she cracks it (miss independent who likes her own space!) and then she's screaming as well.

    Or he'll stand in front of the tv and push her aside when she goes up to it as well - and just shoves her down if she tries to stand her ground there. He pushed her down before and hit her in the head with a toy because she wanted to stand at the tv as well. He is just so MEAN!!!! I asked him why she was crying, and he told me what he did, and then said he was allowed to do it. So I took his hand (after raising my eyebrows at him and saying "oh you think so?") and led him to his room for some time out (cos we don't smack).

    But he is ALWAYS doing things like this - day in, day out - is this normal?!?!?! I'm thinking he needs to go to child care and be beaten up by a bigger kid or something!!

    ETA - and this isn't cos of the new baby cos he's been nasty for longer than 3 weeks I'm afraid!!!

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Sep 2008
    Perth
    486

    Sounds like my 3yr old. Also always being nasty to DD2. I think it may be an attention thing and exerting independance which they don't quite know how much they have. Negative attention is still attention. A hard cycle to break.

  3. #3

    Dec 2005
    not with crazy people
    8,023

    Ive got the opposite.....M is almsot 2 and beating up on V who is 3 1/2. He is an utter ***** to her, hitting, body slamming her, getting Jed's golf clubs and bashing her and me with them. Yet my other 2 boys were angels in comparison.

    Im hoping its a phase cause if he doesnt stop he'll be shipped of to Div's (she said she'll take him anytime)hahahaha

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jan 2006
    8,369

    I didn't realise our sons were so close in age!

    DS is liking his own space and his own thing. He gets cross if someone doesn't play "correctly" with him. Like if I play with a car but the car says the wrong thing or drives in the wrong direction. The two boys about his age at nursery are always having fights over which truck goes with which train etc.

    But he's not this nasty! I don't know what to suggest, maybe childcare would help. Or sorting out play guidelines together. DS and chums LOVE rough and tumble, the only rule there is if someone cries you have to let them stop playing. Maybe your son just wants to be more physical than your daughters can be with him?

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Feb 2006
    NSW Central Coast
    5,301

    My little miss nearly 3 is the same to little mister 1 1/2. Seh will push, hit, smack snatch and bite. He's starting to get his own back, and man does she howl when he does!! I'm so over telling her to stop it, there is just a no tolerance in me now. If she hurts him she is moved away told 'No hurting/hitting/biting (whatever) Liam!' and I cuddle him and spend time with him saying loudly 'Oh Lily bit/hit/kicked you. That hurts and makes you sad doesn't it. Not nice! Mummy will give you hugs.' In an over exaggerated tone. I will leave her there for a while then she has to say sorry ('I'm sorry for...(whatever she did specifiacally) and hug Liam.
    I think it's the age. Not really helpful, but I think it's their way of stating their territory and that they're boss. Lily seems to think it's ok for her to hurt Liam too for some reason. I tell her she's not, but she's adamant she is! I'm trying to be consistent as frustrating it is.... hun. I know how annoying it is!!

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Add Marlene on Facebook

    Jul 2007
    Dapto, Illawarra...NSW
    2,009

    Sorry hun, he's totally normal.