My 3 yr old son has started to give me attitude, What do I do?!?

Question

I've tried every approach and it doesn't seem to make a difference. I'm so tired and zapped of energy dealing with this. This is something he has picked up from other boys. He used to be so sweet but thats been a thing of the past lately.

Answer 1

More details, i.e. what TYPE of attitude, or an example would be nice.  Here's what I have to offer.

I'm taking "attitude" as just being fresh.  If that's the case, when he says something fresh to you, say "You cannot talk to Mommy like that, it's rude.  If you speak to Mommy like that again, I'm going to put you in a time out."  It's only fair to give the child a warning when they haven't done anything violent. (Say hitting, for example, no warning or 2nd chance necessary, place in immediate time out) Give him a chance to change his behavior.

If he speaks to you rudely again, pick him up and say "I'm sitting you in a time out for speaking rudely to Mommy" and sit him down in his designated time-out spot.  Pick a spot that isn't normally used for play.  I use the kitchen table at my house.  Then, you need to sit a timer for 3 minutes (time out guidelines one minute per year of child's age.) and say "When the timer goes off you may get up."  Once the timer goes off you need to have a SHORT chat with him, explaining that "It's not okay to speak to Mommy that way." and have him apologize.  If he refuses to apologize, I honestly use the tactic of sitting the child back in time out until they are ready to apologize.  A lot of people let it go if their kid doesn't want to apologize, however, I feel that this is an important step in the process of learning correct behavior.

Good luck!

Answer 2

rear him ( you have already done a great amount of spoiling) act now and prevent the pubescent drama during his teenage years.

Answer 3

bop him on the head

Answer 4

limit the time he spends with the boys who are being a bad influence on him.

make up a good behavior chart with a reward when he gets a set number of stickers on it. so he can see that when he behaves well he gets something good at the end like a new toy or a trip to the park. and when he misbehaves he loses some of the stickers he's earned.

Answer 5

Beat his ***.

Answer 6

just try and talk to him

have one on one time with him

Answer 7

Next time he does it, send him to his room, or better yet, find a place that you can make him sit (like a corner).  Take away a favorite toy and let him know he will get it back only after he apologizes.  You have to teach him the bad behavior has negative consequences.