My 3 year old has suddenly become a homebody. Is this normal?

Question

My 3 year old used to want to go everywhere and see everything. Now, suddenly, all she wants is to sit in front of the TV and watch cartoons. She used to eat all kinds of fruit and veggies, now all she wants is chicken nuggets or canned ravioli. It's a major battle to get her out the door to do something active. It's a major battle including saying, "I'm not a restaurant - this is what is for dinner, eat it or don't - I'm not making anything else." Major tantrums follow when she doesn't get her own way, and I'm dealing with a LOT of tantrums. Is this normal? Do all preschoolers go through this?

Answer 1

3 yr. olds need limits. any child would choose t.v. over any thing else. decide how many shows she can watch a day(for a 3 yr. old no more than 2 hr. of t.v. a day) it shouldnt be a battle, just tell her these are the new rules and stick to them! as for the food, she cant go food shopping,so she needs to eat (or not eat!) what u serve her. sure,she will not like it at first,but if u are consistent,she will know u are serious and eventually go along. tamtrums are so common at 3,but do not give in when she misbehaves. just stay calm and wait for her to be done. during her t.v. time put a plate of fruit in front of her for a snack. you could also use a timer for her t.v. time or just break it up in shows."do u want another show now or later and we will go outside now?" good luck!stay strong and consistent. kids really do need limits even though it is easier to give in. you will be happy when she is older and is able to behave properly because of all your hard work.

Answer 2

It's fairly normal. I would set a t.v. limit. She can choose 1 show to watch every day at the same time. Maybe set a more strict routine. Also, have her go grocery shopping with you and don't purchase ravioli or chicken nuggets. OR, make your own chicken nuggets and let her help. 3 year olds LOVE to help cook in the kitchen. Maybe if she helps make the food, she'll eat it. When she has a tantrum, physically step over her so that she knows you are aware of her being there, but completely ignore her and go about your own business. She'll get the idea. If you set a routine where she gets up, eats breakfast, plays with toys, has a snack, goes to some activity, eats lunch, has some sort of rest time, another snack, play time/activity time, dinner, play time, then a bath and a show before bed then she'll have a set routine that she can depend upon. Creating a poster of her daily routine might help her. Write down the activity with a picture next to it and let her help glue them on. Explain the new rules to her when she's calm and not fighting you. Good luck!

Answer 3

awww a new milestone....testing mommy's limit. :) The go through this for many reasons...they learn how easy it is to be entertained by television....easy way to solve this is to just turn it off. Have a play time or music time or story time, something that is NOT television. It's a pattern they get used to, you need to break it before they get too set in it. Being 3 years old......do you remember being 3? You can put a stop to all of it by sticking to your guns on this one, your the mommy, you call the shots. You have to raise a little person, make sure you raise her right. Of course any child is going to throw a tantrum...if it always works. Once she gets used to the fact that it doesn't work, she wont do it anymore, this takes a lot on your part because we all know how easy it is to give in. If she grows up fat and addicted to tv she is only going to blame you for letting her get that way....because you are the parent!
Once they discover yummy snacks and foods, that is all they want, I'm going through that now too. Again, same thing. Just don't buy those things. If those foods aren't in the house, they can't throw a tantrum for it, they will eat what is available. Not only will your child grow up healthy and active, but you will be extremely proud and confident knowing that you raised her right. Good Luck!

Answer 4

My son just turned 4 and you are almost describing him. He will only eat chicken nuggets, applesauce and peas for dinner. He almost NEVER wants to go out anymore. He just wants to stay home and watch TV and/or play on my computer! I swear he knows more than I do about the computer. He definitely has his tantrums. I won't tolerate those, though. He'll get put in a time-out or have the computer taken away for a period of time. (Gotta love that punishment -- it usually sends him into another tantrum ending him back in the time-out!) My guess... it's pretty normal. You just have to remain firm and don't let her always get her way ESPECIALLY when she throws a tantrum or that will only teach her that tantrums work!

Good luck!

Answer 5

OMG!! Yes this is so normal!! I have to battle my son every time we have to go somewhere. I usually let him know the night before that we have business to take care of in the morning. It has cut down on his fussinga lot. If by chance we have to go somewhere that wasn't planned on, I tell him it won't take too long then we'll go straight home. He told me the other day that he's a "Homeboy" because homeboys stay home...LOL!! He's gotten to be really finicky about his food. It's hard to get him to eat ,but I do keep fruit handy for him to snack on. When I stick to the plan he trusts that when we go somewhere we'll be back when I say. I know that I'm the parent and he's the child but It's easier when we can meet halfway, and it cuts down on me getting upset with him.

Answer 6

An hypersensitive reaction? whilst my cousin eats zucchini it makes his tongue numb and he will start to stutter. It took a mutually as to discover it become a foodstuff hypersensitive reaction. it may be from exhilaration or any reliable emotion.. it occurs to countless babies. my own will do it whilst he's over excited or pissed off... no longer in easy terms stutter yet have difficulty enunciating specific words. he's likewise 3. yet he will bypass decrease back to suited speech. to no longer alarm you whether it may be gentle seizures that has properly-known to reason stuttering. I advise searching for a doctor to determine it out.