I know its prob just her age, but struggling with DD's behaviour.

[SammyRo]

DD will be 3 in June and we're having big problems with her behaviour. Its not that she's really naughty, its just that she's testing the boundaries and its getting harder and harder to deal with her in the way we would like. I try to do the positive behaviour reinforcement, and spend time with her one on one when DS is asleep, but she'll behave impeccably while we're doing it, but as soon as DS is awake, she's back to being naughty. She just isn't listening if I ask her not to do something, eg pushing her brother, playing with my make-up (she ended up with lovely panda eyes this morning!), and it takes us to actually have to shout at her before she stops, at which point, she runs off crying to her bedroom. I hate having to shout, but if she's doing something she isn't allowed, she just ignores us deliberately. I try and save time out for when she's done something either that could be dangerous to herself or hurt another child. I normally say don't do that thankyou, then remind her what i said a couple of minutes later, then give her a warning, and then its time out. If its not time-out worthy but I don't want her to do it, I follow the same pattern, normally remind her what I've said a few times, try a distraction and then if she's still not listening, I end up getting frustrated and my teacher voice comes out. Its driving me bonkers!

So any tips for dealing with a really wilful child at this age?

[Beautitude]

No advice but we are going through this with L too. Driving me batty! Every time he does something naughty and gets told off for it he thinks it's "funny". Time out doesn't bother him and nothing is getting through to him. W is going through a clingy, whingy phase so I can't give him as much one on one attention as he wants and I just dont know what to do anymore. Your not alone!

[LMS]

I came to this thread to write almost word for word what you have written. So if it is any consideration you are NOT alone. I keep thinking that there must be some magic phrase that I should be using or some brilliant technique that I have missed in all those books but I think it's just plain attention seeking and jelousy of the younger sibling. (mine is 3 years and one month with a 16 month old sister).(pretty close to you I think (22 months apart) ... Soldier on Mum. Apparently it gets easier!..Im freaking out actually as i have number 3 on the way with almost the same gap...