Question
I have an almost 3 year son ( he turns 3 in January) who is a very sweet child….most of the time. In the last month - he has become more aggressive and having more tantrums. He goes to school 2 days a week and loves it. However, last week he bit a child at school and I got a call from the teacher - he was mad because the other child wouldn't give him the toy they were playing with. The next time he went to school he was pushing but it didn't last long and they said he had a great day. This morning he had a complete meltdown tantrum because I wouldn't let him take the huge bag of cereal in my car - I told him I would put it in a cup and took the bag away and he was hitting and trying to bite me and acting completely out of control. I put him on a chair in another room to calm down as I was trying to get everyone out the door for school. I have a 6 year old daughter that thinks all of this is funny- it makes it very hard to discipline my son when she is around. I have talked to her about it and told her she will need to go to her room if she continues to laugh during me trying to discipline him. I don't want him to think what he is doing is funny.
He is such a sweet, sensitive child but VERY strong willed - always has been. He is a little behind on his vocabulary so I was wondering if this has something to do with all of this - not being able to express himself so maybe this is why he is biting and hitting? I do not think he will understand the ticket method yet.
Also we have a problem getting him to bed at night - he has always been a night owl. My daughter goes to bed at 7pm and we would like him to do the same - however, he sits there every night for 1 1/2-2 hours- he does still take a nap from 12-2pm and sleeps the minute he goes down - what do you suggest I do in order to get him down and asleep earlier at night?
Thank you for your help - Amy
