Wondering Why My 4Yr Old Acts This Way

he wants some attention from you do something

One of my daughters is almost 4. She is the greatest. She, too, tests me everything that I do and say to her. The only advice that I have for you is to be consistant. Sometimes, it is important, to show our young ones the ways. When you ask your son to do something...make it fun for him. For example, when I ask my daughter to clean up the toys...she likes to play with EVERYTHING all at once...I make it a race, or I "role model"...look Mommy will pick up ten things, and now it is your turn...I choose the smallest things to pick up. After a couple of times, she finally forgets that I am in the same room, per say, and continues to pick up on her own. Your son is probably the best four year old in the world...reassure him that he is loved, be consistant, and things will get better!
Good luck!

My oldest is now 8years old. Your little one sounds just like mine at that age. He wanted attention and he really didn't care what kind he got. He is seeing what he can and can't get away with. We started an awards chart for him. He got stickers when he did something he was only told to do once or twice at the most. Keep the amount small for his age as far as how many he needs to get a special treat. Don't go out and go big with awards. Take him to the park, or lunch something simple. It really helped and he really came around. My sons first year in school, well lets just say we had a perminent spot in the principals office and were glad if we only went 2 times a week. Good luck and stay strong.

this sounds bad.. but thank god (i thought only my 4 yr old was this way). Mine daughter is normally a great child, very helpful and a great kid. However in the past month she has started acting out, not doing what she is told, and just pushing her limits all the time.
I have tried having a "talk with her", where I ask her what is going on and what is upsetting her .So far nothing has worked. I figure it is just a phase. She is about to be five in Feb and she is the oldest.

I would also love and advice.

From my experience, your 4 year old is totally normal! My son just turned 5 last month and I am going through the same thing. Consistency is the answer--stick to your word. Kids constantly test their boundaries, and long as you firmly state them, and stick with it, they will get it. As for picking up toys and cleaning up, I try to break it down. For example, when he's picking up his legos, I tell him to pick up all the red ones first (or whatever color) or I tell him to pick up 10, then I tell him to pick up 10 more until everything is picked up. I find that making the task fun encourages him to cooperate. As for discipline, I have learned to make the consequences reasonable. Instead of saying, "If you do....then you'll never get to..." Instead, I say something resaonable like, "If you... then you can't go to the park tomorrow." (Or whatever.) You get my point: make the consequences realistic, that way he knows you're serious. And stick with it. What I've learned is that consistency and realistic consequences are what make dealing with this stage a little easier.

Hi B.,

Like most children, he is testing the waters. There is no perfect child who will always behave. Each child will go through stages of turmoil. Just be consistent on reprimanding him for his behavior. Once he realizes that the behavior is not excepted he will stop. Also he may see other children in his school misbehave and is copying that behavior as well. He may be young but children know how to manipulate the adults better than we give them credit. When at home you ask him to do something be sure you are at his eye level and be firm, so this way he knows you are serious and if he doesn't do it don't ignore it. Let him know that if he doesn't listen he will be punish. At his age I would get a stool and sit him in the corner for 4 minutes (every minute for his age). This will help. Remember be consistent that is the most important thing for you to do. Good Luck.