HELP....Four-year-old is being a tyrant!

United States
April 18, 2007 11:45pm CST
I have a four-year-old boy...who for the past almost week has done everything to test me. He has purposely not listened to me. He has gotten things taken away. He isn't allowed to watch TV and play video games for a month. He still does things to make me mad. I have done everything I could possibly think of. It is so bad that I cry. Please, let me know if you have any ideas. Thanks
1 person likes this
3 responses
@missjackie (1358)
• Ypsilanti, Michigan
19 Apr 07
Stick him in his room when he acts up. Don't give him his dinner for a night while he's in his room. He'll scream and cry, but that will teach him that it's not alright to be a tyrant. When he's in his room screaming, IGNORE him. Paying attention to him will give him what he wants. It sounds harsh, but it works.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Apr 07
I agree with the sticking him in his room...but not the whole not giving him his food. He is already skinny...not feeding him will make him more skinny:) Thanks for the comment.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Apr 07
We must be careful as parents not to abuse and to make punishment fit the possibilities. If we punish to extreme for small offenses then we run out of punishments when the child escalates to extremes. Always be in control of your emotions when dealing with children.
@imadriscoll (2228)
• United States
20 Apr 07
I think that an absolute must for parenting a child of any age is consistancy. If the parent says no, the parent must follow up with some sort of discipline if the child continues in the wrong behavior. THIS MUST BE DONE EVERYTIME. I think it is important that the discipline also be done swiftly - if the child is doing wrong, then it is that instant in which you follow through with discipline. This discipline should not be through yelling ... the child will learn that he/she can get away with doing anything and all mom and dad will do is yell at me.
• United States
19 Apr 07
I think he is learning from you. Change your response. You need to become more of the one in control. It seems he has learned how to control you and is exercising that. I think you need to change the form of punisment and the consequences of his actions. Never punish from anger. Good luck to you.