How do you tame a child that will not behave when you have tried it all?

Question

My 5 year old does not behave at all. I am constantly getting onto her. She thinks she can do what she wants, when she wants.
I have tried time out, I have tried a pop on the rear, tried bribes, taken things she likes away. I just am out of things to try with her because nothing is working. Any suggestions?

Ok. First of all I did not mean Tame in a bad sence. I know by child is not an animal.
I love my daughter.
To those of you who offered good advice and did not upset me for asking in the first place, Thank you. I will take all of your advice.

Answer 1

It is not our job as parents to "tame" our children, but to teach them to "tame" themselves.

Answer 2

She sounds defiant.Some children do suffer from it.Worst thing is to try to bribe her,smack her or yell at her.This will set her off worst. Takes alot of talking and alot of pointing out good things to children that is defiant.My 9yr old is defiant.He was on medicine but I took him off of them after 3 weeks.He still can be a terror but I have learn to see his warning signs before he gets into a bad mood which causes him to act out.Time outs will not work for children like this because you must first get their attention and talk to them and when they have settle down from you talking with them then you can say ok now since you understand what you done wrong you must sit or stand in the corner for 5 minutes.Ask her doc about defiant kids.

Answer 3

Kids are tough, but you need to be tougher. It's good that you've tried a variety of parenting styles on her...to a point. You need to stick with one for quite awhile and be very consistent with her. For instance, if she won't pick up her toys when you ask her to, you have her sit on your bed (not hers, as she'll find toys and other distractions in her room) for 5 minutes (make sure you explain why she's having timeout). After those 5 minutes, if she doesn't pick up her toys, repeat the timeout. Try this for a week or so. If it doesn't work, go to the next extreme of taking those particular toys away. Don't change the parenting style but alter it to your benefit. Good luck and keep trying!

Answer 4

First of all you do not TAME children. They are not animals in a circus. Secondly you've constantly changed the game plan and have totally confused her. You should have picked ONE form of discipline (and I refuse to advocate hitting a child), and stuck with it rather than going from one to another to another. That is why "nothing" is working you never gave ANYTHING a chance to work. Pick a form of discipline (time outs DO work if you use them CONSISTENTLY) and stick to it. It's not going to happen over night, in a week, maybe not in two weeks maybe not in two months. but YOU have to stick with something.

Answer 5

I have found with my 6 year old daughter that she will misbehave and nothing will work on her except doing the opposite.She just wants some attention,some of your time! Try to spend time doing what she wants and see if that helps......like reading a book,doing a puzzle,coloring,etc.Good Luck!!!

Answer 6

set up a regime... stick to it... any deviation or problems from her don't react, just act. only one punishment that is dished out everytime (bedroom banishment is always a good one until she says sorry). nothing good will happen in her life until she has sorted it out and apologised being the message.
if she does do good... then rewards are not broadcast, you just do them eg. favourite meal for dinner... favourate cartoon before bed.... but any problems and she doesn't get these things. the message, when she is good, mummy is happy, happy mummy does nice things for her. never forget to appreciate a good child... if you don't they will only register that they get attention from being bad.
hope this helps, good luck.

Answer 7

Someone just gave me some good advice that has really worked with my almost 3 year old son.....instead of getting mad or telling her that you are mad.....tell her that her actions make you sad....I know it sounds kooky, but man, has it really worked with my son...before when I would yell or tell him that I was mad, well that was kinda his intentions...but telling him that it made me sad put a whole new twist on it....he didn't see it coming and it stopped him in his tracks, and it made him think about what he was doing....anyway, hope this helps..good luck

Answer 8

take her to a child counselor for regular appointments... this will help find out what and why your child is not behaving...

Answer 9

i had the same problem with both my boys be cocsistant if she can write letters by comping them make her write sentences say if she tells you no or does not do as she is told the sentence to write could be i will do as i am told or i will respect my mom. something like that

Answer 10

hum poor parenting..


have you ever thought of sitting on her head and giving her a sharp crease for posterity?