I have a 3 1/2 yr. old little boy... He can be extremely well behaved and sweet when he wants to be and he can also be a monster, although this may sound normal. The problem is how he interacts with other children. He knows what's right from wrong, yet more often than not when he is with other children, (especially his own age, but not necessarily) he misbehaves. I feel even more than normal. He doesn't bite, hit etc. but more an issue of sharing and simply "getting along" with other kids. It's getting to the point of driving me nuts! Is this an issue of being an only child, being three years old or what?

Please Help... desperate mother

I have a 4 year old nephew who cusses other kids and screams until he gets his way and will not EVER share. It has made other kids parents not want him around their kids and he knows right from wrong. I'm only 16. So I'm not a parent and don't know much but I would say when he acts that way with other children around to not let him play. And tell him that when he can share and be nice that he can play and if he doesn't do it then don't let him.
That's just an idea I have.

Whitneyblayne,

He's almost 4 and driving you crazy. My advice, after making sure it's nothing medical, would be the same as young br_hjs. Sounds like you may have to be more firm. Set some appropriate rules and boundaries to suit his age and stick to them. Decide on punishment before hand; taking toys away, time-out chair, no sweets, early to bed etc. Be firm and consistent. I don't believe it is to do with being an only child. But he may be jealous of the attention you give the other children, especially if you normally pay him a lot of attention when you two are on your own.

If you feel like filling us in a little more, we might be able to offer more advice.

To me that really sounds pretty normal. Children at that age are pretty self centered and when they begin to play with others it is more an interest in playing a long side of them and not directly with them. He isn't doing anything harmful from what you said so that is good. He just needs more time and practice on socializing with other children. Keep trying to get him to play around other children just stay close by and get down on your knees to his level and show him how to share and behave with others. Don't be too hard on him or push him too much. Children learn best at their own pace with our encouragement only, not with our shoving them into some "expected learning curve". He will get it eventually. Every child is different and it takes some longer than others. When he is around other children just give him lots of help by modeling the behavior you want him to learn. Don't focus so much on the "wrong choices" as much as redirect and show him the "right choices". And loads of praise when he does make the right choices. Good luck.