5 Yr. Old DD W/ Attitude....

My 5 year old has become bratty lately too. I think she picks up a lot of it from school, actually. She was in Kindergarten this year and I noticed that a lot of her friends were allowed to watch Hannah Montana, Sponge Bob, and all kinds of things that I just feel are inappropriate for her. So even though my daughter doesn't get to watch that stuff, her friends do, and she picks up on their behavior. It seems like she wants everything to be a battle lately - from refusing to dress herself to complaining about which bathtub she gets to use at bath time, to whining about what's for dinner.

All I've really been able to do is send her to her room when she starts acting up. She cries very melodramatically, but after a few mintues, snaps out of it. I am really hoping that it's just a phase, because I'd thought that I had until she was at least 13 before she started acting this way! Ugh! So... you're not alone, although I'm afraid I don't have any words of wisdom. =)

Sounds like typical 5 y.o. girl to me. Her and my daughter can get together and have a complainfest. LOL

Sorry I'm no help. I think it's just a stage.

I think this is the time when they start testing us. My 5 year old daughter does some testing now and again too. I can tell she's pushing, because she'll say something naughty and pause to see how my husband and I will react. We give her one serious warning, and clearly tell her that she will get a time out if she says something like that again. I think it's important to set the right expectations now. It's no fun, but it's easier than correcting bad behavior later (if we let her get away with it now).

Five year olds know everything. I think that's why they start school at that age, because they are really ready. Take a step back and realize it is just one more stage they go through and it can often involve hormones too. The book "The Female Brain" talks about this. It is a good book but should be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism because she exxagerates to make her point. I remember that stage as a time of my children getting a lot more independent. Think of it that way and give them a bit more responsibility and some latitude and they may surprise you.

I think this is very normal for this age. My daughters (ages 5 1/2 and 4) both have waves of this same attitude. It's almost like they are going through pre-pre puberty, because it almost seems hormonal at times :). Try to not take it too personally, but don't let her cross the line either. When my girls push it too far with me, I tell them they need to play somewhere else because I don't like how they are speaking to me. I'll give them an example of the proper way to express themselves, and another chance to change their attitude. But if they persist, then they have to go somewhere where they can keep thier attitude to themselves. I am thier Mother and they still need to speak respectfully to me even when they are feeling upset. I do allow them to express anger and frustration, but only if the aren't yelling at me or aren't being too sassy. Think of this a practice for when she is 13 :).