what are we gonna do with this kid?!
Help! 5YO SS has been a holy terror the last two days. Everything from screaming, "I want milk!" to burping and farting on purpose at the dinner table to to saying, "weirdo" and "stupid" after we've asked and told him many, many times not to. The demanding, bratty act has caught us by surprise and it seems like he's not afraid of anything we say or threaten him with. My husband came so close to spanking him tonight at dinner that I thought it was really going to happen... but, of course, it didn't. I know it kills my husband when he feels like he's too harsh of a disciplinarian but when do we stop saying, "He's still little," and go to some discipline that's going to stick? How do you girls handle this kind of thing?
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Send Him to His Room
I had the same happen to us. Skids had the manners of gorillas. DH would simply make them stop eating and send them to their rooms. they don't get to eat the rest of their dinner and they have plenty of time to think.
He's testing you. Show him
He's testing you. Show him that his antics won't be given attention/emotion, but will be met with firm consistent discipline. Not yelling or overly reprimanding (although that's ok once in awhile; parents are human), simply explain firmly what he's doing wrong and what's expected of him, then give him a meaningful time-out, each and every time. I agree, if it's at the dinner table, send him to his room without dinner. No one does kids any favors by overlooking poor behavior, whether BM, DH, SM or whatever.
P.S. Five is not too little, it's almost late, in my opinion. Kids understand consequences for negative behavior very early. Good luck.
He's diffidently testing you...
He's at the age, he's learning to push those boundaries. Lets see how far I can get over here...
You have to stand firm, set consequences. The other thing that comes to mind is the good ole 'I want attention' routine, and this is how I can get it, because you'll respond to me. Cruella's idea is great. Makes them stop and think about what it was at the very moment they got sent off to their room.
Man has the intelligence to change his life,
Sometimes, he just fails to use it...
still have that problem
My ss is almost 12 and he'll still burp and fart at the dinner table. He knows we don't allow it but he thinks it's the funniest thing in the world. Sometimes he will try to say that he tried to hold it in but he just couldn't. Then the laughter. I give a dirty look to him and if he doesn't stop, I make him leave the table until he stops laughing.
He's too old. I know boys think it's a riot but It's not funny at the dinner table.
Dawn
Your SS is very young, but
Your SS is very young, but evidentally doesn't have structure when not at your house. Your husband could spank him, but I don't know if that would work or not. Kids will follow whatever influence they have that is basically more fun to them or what seems more appealing. Maybe suggest that he pass gas in the bathtub and make bubbles. As for the screaming, when my kids do that I just simply tell them in a low voice, that I am not going to listen to them until they use their words the right way and not scream at me. They know they will not get anything at all that they want until they use their inside voices. If he continues then just remove him from whatever situation you are in at the time and let him know when he acts how you have asked him to, then he can rejoin everyone else.
I Don't Yell at My SS
I agree the low voice thing works. I found it very effective. I don't yell but I can give pretty good evil looks and with the low voice my Skids know I am getting ready to go Linda Blair on them. LOL!! Too bad I can't turn my head completly around!
I don't have to yell either...
And I do the same thing, there's that look, and then the tone. Very rarely have I ever yelled or need to yell, but it's usually because the kids are about to do something life threatening... get down from there!!!!!
Sometimes, it's not even necessary to actually 'yell' at the kids at all... sometimes I will give them that evil laugh... waahh haaaaa haaa hhaaa ha. And they will bust up in laughter. But it usually gets their attention, so I can sit down and let them know, that's not appropriate, and what they should have done instead, etc. Depend on how trivial/serious the situation is.
Man has the intelligence to change his life,
Sometimes, he just fails to use it...