How to Deal With a Bratty 3-Year-Old Boy

As the adage goes, the 2s are terrible, but the 3s are treacherous. Three-year-old boys are declaring their independence and practicing continually evolving verbal skills. Unfortunately, this sometimes leads to behavior that is frustrating, difficult and sometimes downright bratty. Fortunately, if parents are both proactive and reactive, and keep realistic expectations, there are ways they can improve their child's difficult behavior.

Things You'll Need

  • timer
  • toys
  • lolipop

Instructions

  1. Taming the Behavior

    • 1

      Improve communication. A child who is acting bratty sometimes just does not listen to Mom or Dad. However, it is possible your toddler does not understand what you are saying. Keep your directions short and simple and avoid giving too many directions at once. He may be acting out because you do not understand him. If you are having a hard time understanding what he is trying to tell you, pay close attention to his gestures and facial expressions.

    • 2

      Keep a routine. Three-year-olds do not have a concept of time. They do not understand if you tell them you will do something "in five minutes" or "tomorrow." When you take them out of their normal routine, they become confused and may be more prone to tantrums. If you do need to deviate from his preferred routine, explain ahead of time what you will be doing, so there are no surprises. It also doesn't hurt to keep an emergency supply of toys or lollipops for unexpected errands.

    • 3

      Discipline immediately. If your child is in danger of hurting himself or someone else, you must act immediately. In short, in simple sentences, tell him the rule and why he must follow the rule: "No biting: Biting hurts." If you are away from home and he is hitting or biting, leave immediately. If you are home, give a timeout. The general rule is a minute for each year of age, so set a timer for 3 minutes.

    • 4

      Stay calm. If you can not prevent your child's bad behavior, do not feed into it. Use a quiet voice and neutral language. Instead of accusing, use "I" statements, like "I would like clean hands before you eat," or "I like to see kids sharing their toys."

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Lessons for Toddlers About Biting
      When your child first bites someone, you may be upset and disappointed. But its actually a common behavior in toddlers, especially those between the ages of 1 and 2, whose language skills arent fully developed, according to KidsHealth.org. They may b
    • How to Make a Behavior Chart for a Toddler
      When parents think about the term discipline, what may come to mind is punishment. However, punishment is only a very small part of what it means to effectively discipline your toddler. One of the more common ways to reward good behavior is through a
    • What should i give my toddler when she keeps throwing up?
      Im sorry to hear your toddler is throwing up. Its important to seek medical advice for any persistent vomiting in a child. Do not try to diagnose or treat your toddlers vomiting yourself.Heres what you should do:1. Call your doctor immediately. They