How can I get my 8 year old son to stop acting like a "baby" and throwing himself on the floor?

Question

Every time things don't go his way he starts with the pouting and temper tantrums. He does it in school too. It's hard to get him to do anything including homework without him putting up a fight. He always wants help even though he knows how to do it. He is in no way independent and I can't seem to get him to grow up a little. I know he is only 8, but he acts like he is 4. I try to give him some responsibilities, i.e. a chore list of simple age apropriate chores. I enrolled him in Taekwondo ( which he loves and is now a yellow belt) to teach him dicipline, respect and self control. He is good when he is at Taekwondo but he loses it by the time he gets home. I'm not sure what else I can do. He is currently grounded for misbehaving in school to the point that the teacher had to call me. I grounded him for a week. Is that too long?

Answer 1

spank his butt!

Answer 2

Well I would say that a week grounded is not long at all. He need to get his behind beat! You should have started the discipline at age 2 when it first started. You have the nerve to cry for help when he is almost a teenager.. you better buckle down before its too late. I don't even know why you would put up with that b/s and enroll him in Taekwondo?!! I guess when he becomes a black belt he will be certified to beat on you. The thing I do know as a young mother of a 3 year old is that books, television, etc can't help with parenting. You as the parent are the only one that can fix the problem. Grab a belt and beat his behind when he falls out. I am not saying to abuse him but let him know that he can't act like a baby. As a punishment take him out of that taekwondo since he LOVES it. Hopefully when he becomes a teenager he won't be added to the statistics list of drug users, abusers, killers and a person familar with iron bars.

Answer 3

I have a similar problem with my six year old although she behaves great at school. Actually, she behaves great everywhere but with me. A week is not too long for an 8 yr old. But I think the truth is somewhere along the way our kids are getting something that reinforces their behavior. To a child, even negative attention is attention. At the risk of sounding like a hypocrite, I am told that if you have the stamina to ignore the bad behavior and make a concentrated effort too root out and reward good behavior, the bad behavior will stop. Good luck and let me know if you find a workable solution.

Answer 4

that's a mood tantrum. I really have a 2 12 months previous to boot. it truly is their way of saying whats up you're making me mad! besides the actual incontrovertible fact that that's embarrassing, if carried out in public, the perfect element that I really have carried out is at the same time as he starts that tell him oh no we do not act like that once which ignore about him. so a concepts as hitting his head too demanding, nicely, he will stop himself from hurting himself to that element. I tell mine at the same time as he does that then he's somewhat not likely to get in spite of that's he changed into wanting. he's finally because the mood tantrums are literally not operating and they are putting out to slack off. so a concepts as at the same time as in public, then i attempt to push aside him and the stares, yet when he maintains too undesirable then I basically head homestead. maximum human beings will stare, yet in the journey that they understand something about childrens they understand there is little to be carried out for this. solid success!

Answer 5

Put your emotions in a corner and just ignore him when he does "his thing". Don't even look his way. I mean ignore, completely. But do ensure that he gets his fair share of love and comforting especially at bed time. Your approach must be this.: Be firm, let him know that you love him, but that you will not put up with this behaviour. and that if it continues you will stop loving him. When he realises that he cannot control you, it should stop. But look out for alternative attention seeking behavioural activity. Kids are smart. they don't give up readily. You gotta be be tough.

Answer 6

my step son (6 y/o) use to do that at the store until one day i pointed and laughed and said "boy you look silly on the floor crying...hey lady doesnt my son look silly?!?!?" he stopped doing that, also i leave the room when he does it. the teacher will stop the class and say everone look at him hes on the floor crying. The she explains that the reason that he is doing it is to get attention and that what was given. It embarasses them. It sounds harsh but it worked and it only had to happen one time.

I learned how to deal with a bipolar child ( i have been raising my godson for 6 years since he was 8, and my stepson since he was 6 months old)

Answer 7

Sounds like someone didn't ignore it when he was going through the terrible twos and gave into his demands at that time. This is what happens when a parent allows the child to be in control.

Answer 8

for an eight year old, mayb a little to long, but u gotta start ignoring him when he does these temper tantrums to show him that u dont care and its wrong
once he notices hes not getting ur attention any more, he'll stop cause there'll b no reason to keep on doing it

Answer 9

no 1 week is a good time ;as he;s acting out and getting in trouble at school..my son is 10 and he has those tizzy fits too.he;ll say i hate you and i;m not doing my homework and all that kind of crap...he;s half way good at school;but when he comes home all hell breaks loose,,yesterday i took his PlayStation away and today he lost his Walkman for not listening to me again...these kids today should learn to respect their parents and if we tell them 'go do your choirs;they should go..have you tried getting him in therapy? that's my next move cause my son is 5/7 and weighs 110 pounds...i want to try to nip it in the bud;before itls too late... i hope he never tries to hit me;cause that will be the last time he;ll ever get the chance to do it again,,,,good-luck and hang in there

Answer 10

my son is only five but his attitude was giving me a hard time so i made up mommie dollars for doing his chores and behaving in school he gets a mommie dollar that he can cash in for video game time or extra stuff but if he gives me lip or forgets to behave he has to pay me a mommie dollar and with out dollars he can't do the stuff he loves.....

Answer 11

Ignore his behavior but maybe you should get him checked for add because i have a friend and their kid (age 9) acts like you said.