Turning Deaf

Giving him fewer materials may help. Also those crayons boxes can be a pain. Try giving him a different container for the crayons --something small clumsy hands can manage.

You are not raising a brat. Four-year-olds can be grumpy. =)

Let him know that Mom cleans up Mom's mess, and He cleans up his mess (at least certain kinds of messes). Let him know that if he can't be responsible with his art stuff then he can't DO art. Teachers require students to clean up materials also --and all the kids have to do it, not just him. It is part of life, like brushing your teeth or taking a bath, and if he does it without complaining, it makes grownups very proud of him.

I don't have one that old but sounds like he is testing you and you are trying. Hope you the best I will be there soon.

Anything he doesn't put away after being asked to ( I would give him a couple chances) would go into a box in a closet and not allowed to play with for a certain time, a few days should do it. When asked again to pick up after he gets them back and he doesn't remind him how he had to go without. I think it is pretty normal for toddlers not wanting to pick up their toys, they just want to do the fun stuff. My granddaughter use to tell her grandpa when he would tell her to put away toys that her grandma would do it. It let me know that I was picking up after her to much and needed her to be more responsible. I do help her pick up but she knows if she doesn't pick up with me she won't get to play with it again for a bit.

I'm sure it's just the age and stage. My youngest is 4 and he is doing the same thing. We won't let him take anything out until he cleans up the first. If he chooses not to clean up, he does it before bed. Lots of choices and several warnings (you have 10 minutes then you need to clean up) work for the most part. The rest of the time I just pick my battles and I'd either if us are really too tired then it's just easier for me to so it that one time.

This is why they make crayons in boxes of 8. He is only 4 so there are probably too many crayons for him to deal with. I would only issue him 8 crayons at a time.

Give him a choice of doing either this or that with the understanding that you are giving him a choice but it is only a choice within the small box you provide for him to operate freely in.

Boys are really different that girls and they process differently. Does he have any men in his life? Basically he has to really understand what is expected of him and how important it is for him to comply. Maybe he needs more time with you because perhaps this is his way of acting out that he may be missing you. You are there but you are not present but just there. I don't know. Only you know your kid. Hang in there because there are more challenges coming that are bigger than this and you are equipped because you are his mother.

sounds like normal 4 year old behavior, unfortunatly?

heres a trick ive learned. make sure hes looking at you when you talk. and no distractions; hit the mute on the tv, or turn it off completely if he cant keep his eyes off it. also, walk up to him and touch him when you want his attention. some kids literally dont hear you, and theres nothing wrong with them, but you have to work hard to understand it i guess.

one more thing; mark gungor talks about the difference between men and women, and how to get a man to do what you want. honestly, this applies to boys too! when talking to a man, you have to ask more than once! you have to. its just part of the game. and dont get snippy, dont get frustrated, dont get annoyed, just ask more than once. its really easy to do that. even if it doesnt make sense to you. ;)

and good luck!