My 5 year old daughter is bossy!

I actually had the same problem with me 2.5 years old. The reason for that was that we kept tell him he is now a big boy - we just brought his little sister from the hospital & we were told this is a good idea to keep his moral high. Well it kept his moral high, but also made him think he can make the decisions now. When we informed him he is mistaken (by actions or talking) he became very upset. It took me some time to understand that while we see that as "they are taking decision" - they see it as "Mom & Dad are bossing me" - after all think about it, you girl might be making decision when she plays with her little sister. Yet, in the important things she really has no saying - it is your decisions that count, so her wording "nobody ever let's me decide" are actually true. I'm not saying let her decide. On the contrary - when it comes to those things talking is nothing - you need to show her by actions that she won't be the boss, and if that makes her upset - well she will just have to deal with it. Life are full of upsetting stuff. On the other hand - she must understand that while she is the biggest child - she is still a child. So she can make some decisions, but only minors one, and she can't force her little sisters / brothers, since she isn't their boss.

Try intervening this way have your oldest daughter pick something to watch and after half an hour say "Now it's (youngest daughters) turn to pick something on TV. Do this with games and books too. Sometimes say something like (youngest daughters name) can choose what TV show to watch first and make sure when the time is up you let oldest daughter know it is her turn. Maybe she does not realize what being bossy is, or doesn't know how to share. If that is the case that is the best way to show her. Help her by telling them when their turns are and when there over. If she gets upset during this, when it is plainly being called out whose turn it is then there is not reason not to give her a time-out to discipline her as she gets older and in higher grades at school if she continues to be bossy and not share it could lead to a lot of problems.

Maybe she doesn't fully understand the word "bossy"? Maybe if you rephrase it to say that it's not fair that she always watches the show she wants, get to play with the toys she wants, or whatever the situation calls for and that others should have a choice, too, maybe she will understand. Why are you letting her make "almost all the decisions when it comes to the toys, games or TV"? That reinforces her bossiness.

This is actually a stage that your daughter is going through. My daughter has been through this stage and my son is in the midst of this stage right now. I think that the reason that children go through this stage at this age is because of the fact that they are getting ready to start school for the first time and they know that they won't at all be able to be in charge when they are in school. The best thing that you can do is to constantly remind your daughter that she is just a child and is not in charge and also make sure that she is taking turns picking things and making rules when playing.

That's tough. I have a 2-year old son. Ever since we always told to be considerate of other's feelings. It should not always him alone and should share with everyone. Being a working mom, I feared to not teach him to behave well because I work almost everyday since he was two months. We left him to a nanny. I told the nanny do not tolerate his wrong doings but never hurt him. So far he cooperates well. I hope he'll still be the same when he grow. Anyway, I really don't agree with physical punishment. I know your daughter can understand you already. Talk with her alone so she won't feel everyone is against her. I hope that helps.

You can let her help you when you feed your baby , or when you're giving him a bath .... etc. This will make her feel with responsible I think this will make her happy ,you cat talk with her about your love to her and her importance in your life.

hi jesslee potts perhaps she feel jealous of her younger siblings'and is making a big bid for moms attention. more one on one time with her might help a bit.I realize you cannot let her boss all the time but she is only fivenot preteen and in time I think she will learn that her younger'sister and her friends will not like her being bossy with them. I am elderly and my only child now is 53 lol. he and his sister were onley 11 months apart so they were pretty fair with each other. we lost our daughter when she was eight to pneumonia.