Sassy Three Year Old

Well, I don't know exactly what to tell you to do, but I can tell you that I understand how you are feeling. My 3 year old son is the same way. I am really hoping that it is a phase that he is going through. I still punish him with time outs and taking things away, even though it does no good. Maybe, in time, it will. Good luck!

I did exactly what Kayla (per Dr. Phil) said to do LAST NIGHT. I went into my 10 year old daughter's room with boxes... I packed up everything! Then I took the power cord to her computer and her TV. Then I went into her bathroom and took everything except soap, shampoo, toothpaste/toothbrush, hair brush (of course towels and toilet paper stayed).
All she has is what she NEEDS. Now, she is ten and doing projects at school that require the use of a computer... so when she has to do research I will be sitting with her making sure that she doesn't play games or IM friends. My daughter is mean, inconsiderate and just plain disrespectful 24/7. And I have had enough. She makes a choice to be miserable... so I am showing her what miserable really is. And I refuse to let her make the rest of the family miserable. She is on LOCK DOWN! And she will earn her things back. As a matter of fact... I made it very clear to her that THOSE ARE MY THINGS BECAUSE I PAID FOR THEM AND I 'LET' HER USE THEM. The next thing to go until she straightens up will be all of her pictures (of friends and family) that are framed or on the wall... then all of her decorative pillows on her bed... then all but her school uniforms. If she doesn't straighten up... she will be living in a room with nothing but a bed with one pillow and one blanket, bare walls and only her desk and chair.... I'm not playing anymore!
I guess the reason that I am telling you this is... stop it NOW! My daughter was just like yours at 3... now at 10 she is TEN TIMES worse!!! I have to show her who is really in control before she becomes a teen-ager and it is TWENTY TIMES WORSE! I can't even imagine that... but I know it is possible!
Do what I DID NOT DO.. be consistent and SHOW her NOW who is the parent. You say that time out doesn't work.. well maybe it is not long enough... maybe it is not consistent... also start now by taking things away...
This morning, when I woke my daughter up... the first thing I said after.."time to get up"... was..."What choice will you make today? Will you choose to be happy or will you choose to be miserable?" She said... "leave me alone.." and I said.."that's fine..today you choose to be miserable and I choose to not let you MAKE me miserable..I will be happy".
By the time she got in the car, she was helping me buckle the baby in the car seat and even kissed me bye when I dropped her off... (oh yes... it had gotten so bad that she wouldn't even hug or kiss me anymore). Now, I know she hasn't miracously changed... she'll have an attitude again when we get home and she realizes that ONE morning does not get her things back... I read something the other day that said...what ever you do, do it consistently for at least 3 weeks. It takes at least 21 days for something to become habit (bad or good)! So set your plan and stick TO IT!
Good luck... you have my prayers... just don't give up!!!

You need to find a punishment that is punishment. Like maybe taking toys away or something. Then you need to be consistant. Everytime she is rude, has an attitude, or misbehaves, then she needs to be punished. Just calmly tell her she should not do that, what she should be doing, give her a warning, tell her she is being warned, then if she does it again, follow through. Dr. Phil had a show on really bad little girls with attitudes (way worse than yours). He suggested taking ALL toys out of room and putting only their bed in their room, then giving toys back for minding, good behavior, good attitides, etc. Sometimes it is hard to punish as much for the attitude, but you have to. Maybe make a chart about what you expect and dont expect of her, and punishments. So it is her choice and she has the decision to make.
Good luck,
K.

This is coming from a father of 4 (2 boys and 2 girls-13,11,4,3-gbbg). My advice is to have a conversation with her that her way of being and that form of communication DOES NOT work and if she continues to be that way and speak to you that way you will throw away a toy of hers. Take something away from her that she will miss (you don't have to physically throw it in the trash, but have it be real for her nonetheless).

JE

I don't have a daughter, but I do have three boys. Boys can be rather rude and nasty at times. I would do what everyone else is saying to do. If she does not listen to you then I would take her stuff away. I would start off taking her favorite stuff away first and then if that still does not work then I would clean her room out. I would let her know that you mean business and that you are tired of her being a little stinker. Good Luck and remember don't let her make you feel bad for doing these things. Then she will know that if she makes you feel bad then she will get her way. Kids aren't stupid, they learn rather quickly. So keep it up and be patient.

Hello A. - I haven't had that experience (yet), my son is 18 months old, but I did hear a great discussion on the radio about 2 weeks ago and there is a Dr. who is a behavioral psychologist and I really like his message. You can check out the information at www.thetotaltransformation.com

Blessings,
B.

Girls can be mouthy, but you need to take care of this now. Start taking away things that matter to her, like, a baby doll until she apologizes. Let her know that you will not tolerate that kind of behavior. If that doesn't work, then start giving her spankings. You need not to warn her but one time to let her know you mean business.

I would try grounding, (no tv, or no favorite toy) and see if that helps.