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I hope I'm not the only one. I have had the same dcg for 1.5 years. She is almost 4. I love her very much but at the same time she gets under my skin so bad. Everything she does just gets to me. Lately she won't take a nap which is fine I know she is reaching that age but I can't even get her to stop rolling around on her cot and be quiet so the other kids can sleep. She whines a lot. Has to have everything. Am I the only one who has ever had a child you just butt heads with? I don't know what to do and I'm very frustrated.
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YES! A dcg, 4.5 yo, just left for FT prek. Had her since she was 3 months old, and her brother before that. I miss her like crazy(can't believe I'm saying that
) but she and I butted heads about every single thing. She wanted to be in charge, could not share without screaming bloody murder, would not rest so made so much noise. And talk? OMG that girl would talk all day long. Naptime was he!! with her because she would get up constantly, to come ask me how many more minutes, or tell on someone else, or tell me she loved me(if she thought my top was starting to blow)
She's be in competition over everything too, run to make it on the tire swing first, run to get outside first, run to open the gate first, run to...well you get the idea. And she'd be so quick to point out why I was wrong about something(everything it seemed). Darn, I miss that lil munchkin. 
As far as naps, have you tried music? What if you gave her headphones and some books/music to listen to? Or a very quiet busy box? That is, after everyone else goes to sleep, otherwise you'll have them all staying away and making ya crazy. -
Welcome to 4! :
: I have maintained for years that the year or so before K is TOUGH and kids usually go to K just in the nick of time!!:: Kids are starting to realize the power of their words and practice using them for good and ill
they want to be more independent, more like the "big" kids, etc.
For naps, I'd not be above a reward for those who were quiet at nap. Maybe a sticker chart, though I find 5 m&m's work like a charm each time
::
I would try to give lots of appropriate choices and make her the helper when possible (maybe setting the table, or whatever jobs you have around the day care - though making sure not to put her in charge of the other kids...)
Whining would be met with a "I can't understand you when you speak in that voice, use your big kid voice, please." Or if she's not talking to you, just whining in general a "that voice hurts our ears, use your big kid words or head to the quiet spot until you can use your big kid voice." (Quiet spot is just for regrouping, not a time out) all said firmly - I know some like to try to joke with the kids about whining - some even going so far as to parrot it back to the kids. But I find if you want to change a behavior approaching it seriously usually works better. If the kids think you are joking or kidding, they may actually keep it up longer to get you to joke more with them
And then, how far off is the light at the end of the tunnel (SCHOOL!)? Because if it were longer than the school year and we just didn't mesh, I might be inclined to strongly encourage mom to send her to all day preschool
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You just described her to a t. Especially racing to be first for everything. I do play lullabies during quiet time but haven't done a book or anything for her because she just quit napping in the last week.YES! A dcg, 4.5 yo, just left for FT prek. Had her since she was 3 months old, and her brother before that. I miss her like crazy(can't believe I'm saying that) but she and I butted heads about every single thing. She wanted to be in charge, could not share without screaming bloody murder, would not rest so made so much noise. And talk? OMG that girl would talk all day long. Naptime was he!! with her because she would get up constantly, to come ask me how many more minutes, or tell on someone else, or tell me she loved me(if she thought my top was starting to blow) She's be in competition over everything too, run to make it on the tire swing first, run to get outside first, run to open the gate first, run to...well you get the idea. And she'd be so quick to point out why I was wrong about something(everything it seemed). Darn, I miss that lil munchkin.
As far as naps, have you tried music? What if you gave her headphones and some books/music to listen to? Or a very quiet busy box? That is, after everyone else goes to sleep, otherwise you'll have them all staying away and making ya crazy.Comment
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She will start preschool next fall. So another full year ahead of meWelcome to 4! :: I have maintained for years that the year or so before K is TOUGH and kids usually go to K just in the nick of time!!:: Kids are starting to realize the power of their words and practice using them for good and ill they want to be more independent, more like the "big" kids, etc.
For naps, I'd not be above a reward for those who were quiet at nap. Maybe a sticker chart, though I find 5 m&m's work like a charm each time::
I would try to give lots of appropriate choices and make her the helper when possible (maybe setting the table, or whatever jobs you have around the day care - though making sure not to put her in charge of the other kids...)
Whining would be met with a "I can't understand you when you speak in that voice, use your big kid voice, please." Or if she's not talking to you, just whining in general a "that voice hurts our ears, use your big kid words or head to the quiet spot until you can use your big kid voice." (Quiet spot is just for regrouping, not a time out) all said firmly - I know some like to try to joke with the kids about whining - some even going so far as to parrot it back to the kids. But I find if you want to change a behavior approaching it seriously usually works better. If the kids think you are joking or kidding, they may actually keep it up longer to get you to joke more with them
And then, how far off is the light at the end of the tunnel (SCHOOL!)? Because if it were longer than the school year and we just didn't mesh, I might be inclined to strongly encourage mom to send her to all day preschoolComment
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josiegirl...how did you get through it? I love her but I stress out so bad with her. And maybe it's just the age I don't do well with too.Comment
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