3 Year Old Behaviour Getting Worse – 5 Practical Solutions

It’s very common for parents to ask themselves why is my 3 Year Old Behaviour Getting Worse?

3 Year olds are at a very important milestone in their developmental stage.

On the one hand, they have transitioned from baby to toddler and on the other, they are transitioning from toddler to older child. 

This complex spectrum puts your 3-year-old right in the middle of a difficult age.

In one sense they have been given more independence and want to show more free will.

But on the other hand, are still being monitored and supervised quite closely.

Related 3 Year Old Temper Tantrums Getting Worse

3 year olds are supposed to break the rules sometimes.

Testing the limits is a way for them to learn about the world and the consequences of good and bad behavior.

This is a great age for them to push the boundaries and see what happens when they break them.

Unfortunately for parents, it means extra supervision both as so much is being learnt all in one go.

All of this leads to behavior can lead to parents thinking “my 3 year old behavior is out of control“

But what is normal behavior for a 3-year-old? and how can you tell when things have gotten out of control?

3 Year Old Behaviour Getting Worse

1. Emotional outburst

It is very normal for a 3 year old to have temper tantrums from time to time.

However, you should observe carefully if these are too frequent and get out of hand too often.

Older children should be able to express themselves better and also have better emotional controls.  If your child is unable to cope or control their emotions, especially anger or frustration, this could be a sign of an emotional problem.

2. Discipline and Authority issues

It is very normal for a 3-year-old to test your boundaries and repeat mistakes they make over and over again.

This is their way of seeing what they can and can’t get away with.

What’s not normal is after being reprimanded repeatedly they continue to act in a disruptive or aggressive way regardless of any consequences.

3. Social Life

It’s very normal for your child to have disagreements with his friends or peers outside of the home.

This is an important part of learning social skills through trial and error.

However, if your 3-year-old is unable to keep long-lasting friends or interact with friends without continuously leading to conflict this could be a sign of an underlying behavioral issue.

4. Self Injury

3-year-olds are curious about their bodies and how things all work.

But if they are showing strong signs of self-injury, like head banging or deliberate cuts then you need to seek the advice from a child paediatrician.

Here is a list of signs that your 3-year-old behavior may not be normal

• Too many tantrums

• Difficult to manage and never listening to everyday instructions

• Kicked out or banned from playschool

• Little to no positive relationship with siblings or friends

• Prefers to spend several hours by themselves with no interaction with other people

5. Write A Journal

It’s always advisable to keep a journal.

This will be a smart way to monitor your child’s behavior and it will be useful to give to a behaviorist professional as observational notes.

With these notes, you may start to see a pattern of negative behavior.

This could show some insight into when, where and how your 3-year-old is misbehaving.

It will also help you to understand what types of environments are causing disruptive behavior.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Does your 3 year old show normal behavior in the morning but then more disruptive behavior at night?

Is it aimed at one or more people in the household.

Are there any times when they are out in public that tantrums take place etc

With this method, you’ll soon see quite clear patterns and then can come to logical conclusions about normal and abnormal behavior.

Parents who think “3 Year Old Behaviour Getting Worse, what can i do?” must remember that most defiant or destructive behaviour is short-lived.

As your child moves up to the next developmental stage they will be better equipped to express themselves.

This will leave you more open to be able to actively communicate what is the correct ways to behave.

Here’s a quick video on 3 YEAR OLD BEHAVIORS. WHAT TO EXPECT