Toddler talking back?

DS is not quite 3 and overall a good kid. But now that he knows how to talk, he knows how to tell us things like:
That's not fair (being told he can't have more cookies)
I don't like that word (again, after being told no he can't have more cookies)
I angry (after being told no he can't have more cookies...sense a theme here?)

And I should say it's not quite talking back. It's raising his voice! I'm not ready for the 14 year old to come out just yet!

Words of wisdom?

Re: Toddler talking back?

My DD is the same! She tells us " That's not nice" when we tell her no. She also says "I'm getting angry," "that's mean," and her newest "You in a time out, mommy."

DH and I basically fail at parenting when this happens bc she says it in the cutest angry voice and it's hard to keep a straight face.

I tell her that she can't talk to mommy/daddy that way...and ignore/divert attention.

She's really good in general, so I'm not too worried about behavior.

Re: Toddler talking back?

Imagine a 3 year old boy with 8 and almost 7 year old sisters...his catchphrase is (in a loud, yelling voice), "FINE! WHATEVER!"

Just this afternoon he yelled at me, "You don't talk to me like that!"

Sometimes I humor him..."I know you're angry; let's talk about it..." Other times I tell him, "You must be joking because I'm laughing at you right now, now get out of here..." All depends on the context and my mood

Re: Toddler talking back?

Message edited 3/13/2014 7:14:58 PM.

Toddler talking back?

The angry thing happens. She did that then too. Its like she finally figured out HOW to tell me what she was feeling. So I went with it. that's fine, I understand and its ok to be angry, but you STILL aren't getting your way.

Not fair? Honestly (and maybe a bit sadly) I have said "youre right its not fair, but that's just how it is" Said that once in a grocery store to the amazement of another mother.

Life is unfair, it happens, get used to the disappointment.

I let her go to her room when she really had enough of me. She'd scream and cry and I told her "let me kwow when you're done" After a while Id go in and check on her. She'd throw me out if she was angry and that was fine too, but I said "I will come back because I love you, even when you're angry at me" Later that came up too. Just in passing I love you so much, I always do even if you are mad at me or I'm mad at you, you are always in my heart and I will always love you.

Generally she'll tell me when she was done or I'd go in and talk to her about why she was angry and redirect but never let in.

Gooooooooooooooooooooood Luck!

in my house no is no
If you push or get angry you'll lose something else
if that upsets you and you act mean, you'll lose another thing
Keep it up and i'll pack up your all stuff and you get to EARN each one back one at a time. mess up while earning them and lose them all .

This has happened twice. Now she just gives me the look that says "is this one of those kind of nos" lol she figured it out.

But each kid is different

Message edited 3/13/2014 8:21:43 PM.

Re: Toddler talking back?

Re: Toddler talking back?

OMG you should hear my daughter.
I feel like she is 3 going on 13!

I don't like you! (to whichever parent is telling her no or disciplining her at the time)
Note that this will change hourly!

I SAID I want juice! (this gets her a time out)

I TOLD you, I don't like that shirt

No fair!

Leave me ALONE! (usually followed by the famous, I don't LIKE you!)

You SAY you love me! (after she has been disciplined etc ) (This one cracks me up)

The list goes onnnnnnn.
Ah, the Terrible 3's!

Message edited 3/14/2014 11:30:03 AM.

Re: Toddler talking back?

To just give another perspective, although it can get irritating to hear, I think its GREAT that your DC is "using his words" so appropriately! Especially "I angry" - thats fabulous!
I have to teach kids to use "feeling words" instead of acting aggressively, like hitting, biting, spitting. Previous posters have given some great parent responses, but I think its important to remember that "using words" is far preferable to the alternative!!

Re: Toddler talking back?

Re: Toddler talking back?