https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:59:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-tips-for-a-4yo-stormcloud#post-2796563 Fri, 12 Jan 2018 11:02:58 +0000 looch 2796563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started asking my son what he needed me to do in order to help him understand or cope with the rules/things I asked of him. Just the act of having that conversation with him diffuses the situation and it also gives me insight into how well he understands what is expected of him. Then, I can figure out how to troubleshoot.</p> <p>For the going to bed thing, is the bedroom dark enough? My son had the same issue in the summer, and we had a conversation about how the earth and sun change their positions and we read an age appropriate book about what was going on and it was like a lightbulb went on and he understood the total number of hours in the day was the same, but we had more light time during parts of the year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-tips-for-a-4yo-stormcloud#post-2796540 Fri, 12 Jan 2018 09:49:19 +0000 nana87 2796540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It doesn't always work, but sometimes I've noticed that our almost 4 yo's fits happen when she's being kept at arm's length because I'm busy with the baby or getting ready for the day or something like that, and what she's really craving is attention/affection. When that's the issue, it helps to say "hey do you want a snuggle?" and just hold her for a few minutes while she calms down. And then we talk about ways to more nicely ask for what we need, handle our emotions, etc. Other times that's not it (like the knock down drag out tantrum she had on vacation last week at my mother-in-law's because she missed a nap...) and she just needs to be somehow distracted out of it but on her own terms which change constantly lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-tips-for-a-4yo-stormcloud#post-2796509 Fri, 12 Jan 2018 05:15:49 +0000 Becky 2796509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don’t have a lot of tips, but school breaks are always a struggle for us. The kids are so thrown off of their routine, and I don’t have many tricks in my hat has DD1’s teacher. Is it all the time that he is highly emotional, or does it seem to be super bad now?</p> <p>3 was the difficult age for us, with DD1’s emotions running very high. I agree with what some others have said about giving some space and then taking time after he has a minute to cool down to sit with him for a long cuddle. As we got closer to 4 and DD1 could articulate why she was getting so emotional that really helped. Now I ask her to take a deep breath and let me know why she is crying/hitting/tantruming and she’ll say she is hungry/tired/wants me to hold her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-tips-for-a-4yo-stormcloud#post-2796496 Thu, 11 Jan 2018 23:09:06 +0000 Nutella 2796496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ajsmommy: @Revel: @erinbaderin: @Nonimouse: @Mama Bird: thanks for your replies! I didn’t get any notification on email that there were answers on my threads &amp; then I clean forgot about it #sleepdeprived</p> <p>I’m glad it’s not just us. I can sometimes hear our ‘threat’ language turned back onto us, so i feel even worse when he tries to threaten us since it’s clear he’s just copying me. </p> <p>I will try that book, @Nonimouse: thanks! He does like books and will often repeat them out loud randomly at other times so could be a winner! </p> <p>I will try some of these and report back! Best of luck to you all too 😅 and thanks again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-tips-for-a-4yo-stormcloud#post-2796107 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 14:36:21 +0000 Mama Bird 2796107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is five and really dramatic sometimes. He's a very mature kid, but some things set him off and then, so much drama. I really have to be better about avoiding those things, because I know what they are. He doesn't like to be disciplined, even if he knows he did something bad. It's even worse if I lose my temper, but even if I put him in time-out calmly, you'd think I've grounded him for life. </p> <p>And then he yells at me for being a mean mommy. A couple of days ago I just went and asked, if he doesn't like time-outs, what he thinks I should do if he's misbehaving and doesn't respond to nicely being asked to cut it out. That made him stop and think a little... I hope. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-tips-for-a-4yo-stormcloud#post-2796055 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 11:41:35 +0000 Nonimouse 2796055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really, really like the book "how to talk so little kids will listen". I've been trying to quit the bribing thing--it's tough, and the book has helped! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-tips-for-a-4yo-stormcloud#post-2796025 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 09:44:42 +0000 erinbaderin 2796025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice, just commiseration - B turns four in two weeks and the mood swings are almost as wild as the tantrums. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-tips-for-a-4yo-stormcloud#post-2796022 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 09:40:16 +0000 Revel 2796022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This all sounds super familiar to me - 4.5 year old and a 4 month old in my house. I will say we are seeing improvement iby daughter as she's crossed over the 4 and a half mark, so there is hopefully light at the end of the tunnel! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-tips-for-a-4yo-stormcloud#post-2796014 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 08:37:27 +0000 Ajsmommy 2796014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Chiming in to say I think 4 is just hard!! DD is so emotional and the most ridiculous things will set her off and I feel like she is harder to console or redirect bc she's older and smarter now. She knows what we are trying to do and instead of going along with it she just gets more upset. We try to let her have some "space" to get over it for a few minutes, then I try to console her which rarely works honestly.. not sure why I try but it makes me sad to see her upset. Then we'll end up having to sternly talk to her and tell her she's cried/whined about "it" long enough and it's time to move on. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. When it gets really bad DH usually threatens time out.. sometimes I count (her teachers do this so it gets her attention). Mostly we just try to get through it. </p> <p>So not much help but definitely can commiserate! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-tips-for-a-4yo-stormcloud#post-2796005 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 02:49:45 +0000 Nutella 2796005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi all,</p> <p>Just wondering if anybody has any good tips or advice for dealing with a highly emotional 4yo boy??!</p> <p>We are at our wits’ end most evenings as he is so full on and intense all day (this has become more noticeable in the few weeks leading up to turning 4), plus also he is currently on daycare holidays 😅</p> <p>He also is super fussy with food - any ideas how to avoid the multiple dinner offers?</p> <p>And since it is summer here, he refuses to sleep until it is dark (which is around 9.30pm/10pm.</p> <p>My patience is thin due to my 6mo teething and sleeping poorly. Plus my older LO seems to play up specifically when I’m stuck on the couch BFing 😫</p> <p>He is normally a super sweet kid and really engaging and kind, but right now he’s being a real handful and I don’t love the fact our whole evenings alternate between us trying not to bribe/threaten him but then also having cuddles to try and calm him down! Argh.</p> <p>Any help or commiserations welcome!</p> <p>Thanks &amp; happy new year to everyone too :grin: </p>