My almost 5 year old is driving me crazy!

I don't know how else to word it - but she is!

From the moment she gets up - around 6:15 am - she demands me and her sister to get up, get dressed, eat breakfast - do as she says. This morning I wanted to sleep in alittle since the kids have no school and she literally was whining and crying at my bed for over an hour to get up and get dressed b/c she wants to go downstairs. She just always has to get her way. After hearing her for over an hour and me refusing to get up that early- she then proceeds to whine about what she wants to wear and that she can't find what she is looking for etc etc.
Then she argues with her sister (who is 3) - and it goes on and go - ALL DAY LIKE THIS!

If she wants something and im on the phone - she will persist somehow until she interrupts me and gets what she wants.

I do time outs constantly, take things away, but there is only so much i can take. I explain to her that she can't interrupt mommy when im on the phone, talking to someone, I teach her to be polite (say please, thank you) - she loves school thankfully and is sounding out words now etc.... - BUT I can't stand the now it all attitude, whining about everything like this kid is unhappy about something constantly! She doesn't want to watch a show that she sister loves because its boring??! Who teaches this kid these things?

My 3 year old on the other hand is content playing with one toy, quietly looking through a book - BUT - my 5 year old needs to be entertained constantly and crys for attention.

Is this the age? I can only imagine when she is a teenager and we tell her she can't go out or stay out late - what she is going to put us through!!

Im tired of being tired about this. I need some advice on how to deal with her. Help!

Re: My almost 5 year old is driving me crazy!

My almost 5 year old is the same way sometimes. She has been known to purposely wake up her 20 month old sister so we HAVE to get up.

She's not the boss. We tell her that, "You are not the boss. Mommy and Daddy are." When she wakes up early and wakes the baby up, she's then not allowed to get out of bed. So, let's say she's waking up at 6 (and waking her sister up) and we want her to stay in bed until 7:30. Then I will get up with the baby, but Becky has to stay in bed until 7:30, because that's the time we agreed on. make sense?

As far as the phone, and the fact that she wants instant gratificaion, she is plenty old enough to understand patience. When Becky does that, I take TV away for the rest of the day instantly. It goes off. It's over. There's no discussion... she knows the consequence.

There's a lot of whining in my house from her as well, but I tune her out. I just completely ignore her. SHe wants attention... I refuse to give attention of any kind for negative behavior.

We keep saying, "If this is what four is lilke, I'm terrified of fourteen!' Becky is really manipulitive, and she has a social intelligence that is over the top scary. She will size you up in an instant and figure out exactly what to say to you to get the outcome she wants. My DH keeps saying she remiinds him of a serial killer....

to you because this age is HARD!!!!!

Re: My almost 5 year old is driving me crazy!

Posted by OffWithHerHead23

My almost 5 year old is the same way sometimes. She has been known to purposely wake up her 20 month old sister so we HAVE to get up.

She's not the boss. We tell her that, "You are not the boss. Mommy and Daddy are." When she wakes up early and wakes the baby up, she's then not allowed to get out of bed. So, let's say she's waking up at 6 (and waking her sister up) and we want her to stay in bed until 7:30. Then I will get up with the baby, but Becky has to stay in bed until 7:30, because that's the time we agreed on. make sense?

As far as the phone, and the fact that she wants instant gratificaion, she is plenty old enough to understand patience. When Becky does that, I take TV away for the rest of the day instantly. It goes off. It's over. There's no discussion... she knows the consequence.

There's a lot of whining in my house from her as well, but I tune her out. I just completely ignore her. SHe wants attention... I refuse to give attention of any kind for negative behavior.

We keep saying, "If this is what four is lilke, I'm terrified of fourteen!' Becky is really manipulitive, and she has a social intelligence that is over the top scary. She will size you up in an instant and figure out exactly what to say to you to get the outcome she wants. My DH keeps saying she remiinds him of a serial killer....

to you because this age is HARD!!!!!

Re: My almost 5 year old is driving me crazy!

Posted by AnnBrunoXO

Posted by OffWithHerHead23

My almost 5 year old is the same way sometimes. She has been known to purposely wake up her 20 month old sister so we HAVE to get up.

She's not the boss. We tell her that, "You are not the boss. Mommy and Daddy are." When she wakes up early and wakes the baby up, she's then not allowed to get out of bed. So, let's say she's waking up at 6 (and waking her sister up) and we want her to stay in bed until 7:30. Then I will get up with the baby, but Becky has to stay in bed until 7:30, because that's the time we agreed on. make sense?

As far as the phone, and the fact that she wants instant gratificaion, she is plenty old enough to understand patience. When Becky does that, I take TV away for the rest of the day instantly. It goes off. It's over. There's no discussion... she knows the consequence.

There's a lot of whining in my house from her as well, but I tune her out. I just completely ignore her. SHe wants attention... I refuse to give attention of any kind for negative behavior.

We keep saying, "If this is what four is lilke, I'm terrified of fourteen!' Becky is really manipulitive, and she has a social intelligence that is over the top scary. She will size you up in an instant and figure out exactly what to say to you to get the outcome she wants. My DH keeps saying she remiinds him of a serial killer....

to you because this age is HARD!!!!!

Thank you for your comment. Im guessing I have to be more firm on the consequences - perhaps like taking tv away all day etc (the downside is my little one is affected as well) - if I take away toys or tv - my little one can't play or watch - but it won't be the end of the world.

Arghhhh - there has to be a light at the end of this tunnel!

Re: My almost 5 year old is driving me crazy!

Do you have MY daughter living in your house? My lord, she's so difficult! I'm currently reading 1, 2, 3 Magic. I highly recommend it! It's a system for dealing with kids like this and so far it's definitely working!

Re: My almost 5 year old is driving me crazy!

Re: My almost 5 year old is driving me crazy!

DS who is 5 as well acts this way sometimes. The 1, 2, 3 is great (although I didn't read it all). I have just one kid so maybe is easier, but (not knowing how it is having 2) I think your second one shouldn't suffer the consequences, meaning that you can turn on the tv for your little one while your older one is in another room. What I do with DS is that I count to 5 (in school they said the do it backwards) and if he doesn't stop the behavior, he will get a consequence. When he listens to me counting, he runs and do whatever I'm asking him to or he stops what I don't like. Good luck!

I repeat many times that a good choice brings a good consequence and a bad choice brings a bad consequence.... Hope it helps!