I hear ya. I have one determined little girl who thinks she's King of the Castle. The other day she stood in the middle of the zebra crossing with her hand up at the cars shouting "stop". Thinks she's invincible.

I can't do time out. She simply wouldn't go and because of my dodgy pelvis, I can't lift her and force her to go. Nor can I carry her out of the playground when she refuses to go. I would if I could.

So what works? Leave now and you'll get a spoonful of ice cream when you get home. If you don't leave now, I'm putting your bike in the shed. Those two absolutely work.

I've also stopped trying so hard to negotiate. I think I was trying to be too gentle. One day at the playground there was a mum who had three young kids and she was just very matter of fact and it was absolutely clear who was in charge. So I often think of her and try to adopt the same no-nonsense voice and say, "come on, we're going." Not so much faffing about and trying to persuade IYKWIM.

I have noticed that DD has been slowly getting better so I live in hope