My daughter's terrible attitude?

Question

I'm a single teenage mom with my 2 year old, my boyfriend left a few months ago after I argued he didn't help, so i'll be moving with my parents in a few weeks, but my daughter has become so aggressive, even BEFORE my boyfriend left (so it can't be that)

She hits me and my cat and always throws a fuss when she doesn't get what she wants. Last time in McDonalds she screamed and threw the toy because it wasn't the panda. What can I do? I don't want to go to my parents' house with her like this.

Answer 1

ummmmmmmm  what my mom said she did was she would shut the door and turn up the music when i had a temoer and now im a goodkid who doesnt get her way or just whenever she screams just tell her to stop or ull take all her toys

Answer 2

It's too bad that she acts this way. Have you ever watched Super Nanny? She has some really good tips on how to deal with disrespectful children.

One idea is to put the child into "The Time-Out Room". The child needs to learn to respect you and other adults. You will have to really follow through in order for it to work. The basic idea is that whenever your child misbehaves, you send her to "The Time-Out Room." (Maybe a kitchen that has a door, or the guest room, or wherever you can find a closed-off area.) Since the child is 2, you'd put her in the room for 2 minutes (a minute for each year of her life). After those 2 minutes, you go into the room and talk kindly to the child, explaining that she did something wrong (which you'd tell her before putting her in, too, of course!), and ask her to apologize. If she does it (without hitting you or swearing or any other bad behaviour), then she can come out. If she doesn't, then she stays in the room for another 2 minutes. After those 2 minutes, you'd go in and repeat the procedure. Basically, she stays in there until she can prove she can apologize. This, if continued and enforced, can help her to behave.

To encourage good behaviour, you could start an award system. Maybe a chart with 10 or so spaces. Everytime your daughter handles a situation well or does something particularly good, or something nice that she wouldn't have done before, she gets a sticker on the chart. When all the spaces are filled up (you don't want to make it too hard to get to the top- but not too easy, either), she gets to pick an activity that you and her get to do together- maybe a meal out at one of her favorite restaurants, or a trip to the park, or some other fun thing to do. This will give the two of you time for positive bonding, and will show her that even though she needs to respect you, you can still have fun together.

Best wishes!!

Answer 3

Honey, my nephew is the same way. Its must be the terrible 2's..

Answer 4

TERRIBLE TWOS!

all i can think of just keep on reinforcing the rules if you give in then there going to keep on getting worse as for your parents i think that they will understand, they have already been through this process if anything they will probably be able to help you get through this

try watching nanny 911 you can learn alot from that

-good luck

Answer 5

You have to let her know who is in charge. These little tantrums she throws know will get worse unless you let her know this behavior will get you nothing. Don't try to be her friend you are her mother act like it. You do not always have to nice I know mine wasn't. When she threw the toy at McDonald's did you throw it away or go and pick it and try to give it back. I can not say this enough YOU ARE IN CHARGE ACT LIKE IT!!!!

Answer 6

Ever hear the expression "terrible twos"?

It's part that - and your Mom will be helpful if you will listen to her input.

Other than that, this is where you learn TENACITY - which is different from patience. The infant is trying to locate her boundaries. If you blow this, you'll really suffer later!

That means that "no" has to be "NO" and you have to patiently and steadfastly and tenaciously STICK TO IT when you show her a boundary - any boundary - EVERY boundary of any kind. Patiently, stubbornly, tenaciously, CALMLY consistent and firm.

She is finding the boundaries of her world - and that will equal for her the degree to which she feels secure in her world because she will know that her mother is solid, consistent, trustworthy, secure - all the foundational emotional things any child needs to feel safe, secure, and loved.

It is vital to her development that you RIGHT NOW be firm and steadfast and demonstrate and prove to her through your calm and stubbornly-consistent actions that her world - and the most important person in it - is rock-solid, dependable, and committted.

This will be especially important due to your age and the absentee father.

Get a little obsessive about being CONSISTENT and firm, and the time you invest through your actions during this difficult "terrible two" time will pay big dividends later.

Any laziness or inconsistency during this time will likewise insure h**l-to-pay later.

Good luck !

Answer 7

That's why it's called the "terrible two's!"  : )

You have a very strong-willed child.  I know this is difficult for you, but hang in there.  When my son did the same thing and began to throw a tantrum I would tell him, "Go to your room if you want to do this and do it there."  Well, since there was no one to watch he stopped throwing tantrums very quickly.  

Stand firm, and when she starts in tell her she cannot act like this, if she continues and you're in McDonald's or another public place, walk out.  Tell her she won't be playing in McDonald's, etc., if she acts like that.  A little time out will help her to see that you mean what you say, and remember, you are the MOM!  At home have a chair for time-outs and put her there when she starts in.

2-year olds are SO much smarter than we give them credit for.  Be consistent, use a normal voice, and if you tell her a consequence and she starts in be prepared to go through with it.

Take care and God bless

Answer 8

First of all, she's two years old. She doesn't know what is going on around the world - for she believes that the world does involves around her. She is what called the 'me/terrible two' stage. She will keep on acting like a brat until she comes to an understanding that other people have feeling as well. I wouldn't worry too much about her learning that there are other people, I would force on her attitude. Kids only learn from reinforcements - positive as well as negatives. For example, when she is just sitting at McDonald being a good little quiet child, I would tell her how wonderful she is and maybe, not all the time, reward her. When she starts to act like a brat, I would give her a little spanking on the butt. Not a rough one, but a little pat on the butt to let her know who is boss.

You can't always give her what she wants either. Just because she didn't get the panda does not mean the end of the world. By doing so, she will eventually learn that she won't get everything in life.

Don't be worried about taking her to your mom's house. I'm sure your parents know what is like to deal with a difficult child (we were all once like that.) Just let them know ahead of time that she is a little moody so they can be prepared.

My personal advice to you: Being a teen mom is hard - especially if the father is not there to help. I would take advance of the free child day care and scholarships (if you're planning on going) in your community. A lot of junior colleges offer free day care, so maybe she can learn to interact with other people better. Good luck to you

Answer 9

When she screams take away one of her favorite toys

everytime she has a tantrum continue with this!

when your at home & shes having a fuss then take her toys away & make her stand in the corner for 5 minutes

but! if she leaves the corner or continues being fussy immediately place her back & add an extra 5-10 minutes

it'll take sometime but eventually she'll see that if she keeps being naughty she'll be punished & not want to do it again!

Let her slowly earn her toys back everytime shes good as a reward!

I watch my cousins raise there kids with these techniques & there very well mannerd! infact they really good kids!

I know shes only 2 but (sometimes) children need to be treated like adults so they can have respect for others & have manners

Answer 10

tighten up the rules

let her know that its not okay when she acts that way

Take away her favorite toy or when she hits you give her a time out with nothing to play with

it may seem mean but its what you gotta do