Does it get better at 4?

Just curious because 3 is a rough age. I find it more challenging than 2! My mom always says 4 was her favorite age. Just curious if that's the consensus.

Re: Does it get better at 4?

I agree 3 is def worse!! I sure hope 4 is better!!

Does it get better at 4?

4 is challenging because that when they really become there own person in my opinion...my DS has his own wants, friends, likes and dislikes and his attitude came about more at 4.

Behavioral i think 3 was by far the worse age

Re: Does it get better at 4?

Yes, I believe 4 is better, but I'd have to say it was more around 4.5... LOL
He understands the rules now so as he gets older I allow him to have more responsibility and I give him more freedom. If he takes advantage of that freedom, gets fresh, etc then he understands he doesn't get rewarded or gets time out, no dessert or coins in his piggy bank, etc. We do coins at night in his piggy bank (pennies, but helps with counting). We also teach him with his money he earned he can get things (stuff like stickers at Michaels or at 5 Below). I don't do this every day, but if he's good out running errands with me and had a good week I'll say tell him the money he's earned and he can buy something in that range... Of course I've never taken money out of the piggy bank. Not even sure if he thinks I do anyway.
Well, after that long story the moral is it will get better bc they understand consequences to their good and bad behavior better. My 2 yr old is starting to get it bc of his older brother, but doesn't care as much.

Message edited 4/21/2014 4:33:31 PM.

Re: Does it get better at 4?

3 has been bad! Way way way worse than 2. But as she nears 4 I see a very SLIGHT improvement so maybe there is some hope!

Re: Does it get better at 4?

Yes definetely gets better at 4. But like someone else said more like 4.5. Completely agree 3 is horrible.

Re: Does it get better at 4?

well from 1 -3 was awful, god awful. 3-3 1/2 was awesome. now we are nearing 4 (next month) and we are regressing and now it's fresh and obnoxious, rude. I don't think it's better. I hear around 5 ugh

Does it get better at 4?

Oh I hope so! 3 is SO much harder than 2!!!

Re: Does it get better at 4?

I hope so
For us 2.5 to 3 was bad then it got better at 3.5 it's getting bad again!!!!!

Re: Does it get better at 4?

I found that my DD was pretty easy up until age 4.5. Then she started challenging everything. She had her own opinions, wants, etc. Everything was a battle.

But then she started Kindergarten and turned 5 a few weeks in and everything changed again. Being in school really mellowed her out.

I think every kid is different and there is no one age that's awful for EVERY kid. For us, it was 4.5 to 5 but for someone else they may have had to deal with terrible twos or threes.........or fours.

Good luck!!!!

Re: Does it get better at 4?

Does it get better at 4?

Glad to see I'm not alone! Misery loves company I guess!

Does it get better at 4?

I want to say yes but for me it got worse. A lot of smart mouth and attitude followed by crying and acting like a baby. I can honestly say idk wtf happened on his fourth birthday because I didn't recognize my child. It lasted a few month but 4 to 5 transition was awesome. I saw a lot of maturity over night with that age.

But boys are also very different than girls.

Message edited 4/21/2014 7:17:47 PM.

Re: Does it get better at 4?

Posted by Hofstra26

I found that my DD was pretty easy up until age 4.5. Then she started challenging everything. She had her own opinions, wants, etc. Everything was a battle.

But then she started Kindergarten and turned 5 a few weeks in and everything changed again. Being in school really mellowed her out.

I think every kid is different and there is no one age that's awful for EVERY kid. For us, it was 4.5 to 5 but for someone else they may have had to deal with terrible twos or threes.........or fours.

Good luck!!!!

Re: Does it get better at 4?

Around 4.5-5 is when it turns. The attitude is the worst though bc they truly understand what is going on. You can reason a bit more but it's still challenging.

Re: Does it get better at 4?

We've gotten better at 3.5 for DS. It's been rough with him since birth.

Does it get better at 4?

All of this scares me. Dd is 19mos.

Re: Does it get better at 4?

Re: Does it get better at 4?

Not with either of my kids.

Re: Does it get better at 4?

We had it super easy until DS1 turned 4 and so far age 4 is my absolute least favorite age. Now he talks back and gets really upset and meltsdown sometimes. We didn't have terrible 2's or 3's so his becoming difficult at 4 has been really challenging. I'm hoping things get better and level out by 5.

Does it get better at 4?

Good God I hope so. My twins are just over 3.5 and how I'm not an alcoholic right now is a miracle.

Re: Does it get better at 4?

Thanks for all the responses.

Yikes for those who said four is least favorite age. I guess all kids go through it at some point. DD is a very strong-willed child, she always has been, but she was an easy infant and young toddler. But 2.5-3, she got tough. She can be so sweet, funny, and easy going one moment and so moody/sassy the next. It probably doesn't help that she hardly naps, but she really needs them. Dinner time has been horrible lately.

Re: Does it get better at 4?

Re: Does it get better at 4?

Re: Does it get better at 4?

My dd is almost 4 and she is getting easier. When I worked in daycare all the staff would always comment how they wished they were in the 4 year old room! 3 is the hardest age hands end. At 4 they get ideas like sharing , following rules, consequences and they still love to help and please. I'm just praying the whining gets better because that's the worst part of 3.