C.S.
N.,
He's testing the waters to see what he can get away with and what he can't,. Don't yell as you are only giving him more fuel to be acting out in a bad way. You need to get down at his level and tell him what he's doing wrong and put him in a time out, if he moves out of time out put him back in that spot ,even if you have to do it repeatedly until he stays there, using a timer also helps because then he knows and you know when his time is up. Consistency is the key ,he'll try to wear you down, but, eventually he'll get it. DON'T GIVE UP OR GIVE IN! Reward him when he has been good, he will learn what is acceptable and what isn't, it just takes time. I'd also teach him to apologize for the naughty behavior, that way when you've told him what he's doing wrong, he should be able to tell you what he did wrong too, so you know he gets it. Don't call him more than once, he is acting out to get your attention, so go right to him and let him know. As far as the whininess , ignore him until he can express himself in a big boy way and let him know that's what you expect from him. Patience will be stretched a little now and then but it all pays off in the end. Good Luck, C. S.