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Mind & Body

You asked

My 4 year old is so bossy to other children. What should I do?

A bossy four year old is experimenting with her power and the affect that her words have over a situation. She realizes that the way she treats others can change the outcome. In other words, she has learned how to manipulate.

Dealing with such behavior can be difficult, but must be done. If you let the behavior continue, you may find your child will have problems making friends in school.

In some cases, a child is being bossy to other children because they cannot make decisions for themselves at home. Playtime is the only time that they can control. If your child seems to only be bossy to other children, perhaps you should offer her more choices during the course of her day. Instead of telling her to pick up her toys, ask her if she would rather pick up her toys now or in five minutes. Allowing her to make decisions helps her to feel in control.

More questions

What is normal sexual behaviour in my young child?

My child is exhibiting some sexualised behaviour ... should I be concerned?

Why does my child ignore me when say "no"?

Defiance is the way that a preschool child asserts himself. He wants to show the world that he has his own identity and is not as dependent on you as he once was.

What can I do about my 2-year-old's tantrums in public?

When your two year old throws a tantrum in a public place, it can be embarrassing and upsetting.

How do I give my child a lot without spoiling her?

A parent wants their child to have everything because they love them. But showing your love without spoiling your child rotten is difficult at best.

My 4 year old is so bossy to other children. What should I do?

A bossy four year old is experimenting with her power and the affect that her words have over a situation.

Why does my two year old ignore me when I tell her "no"?

Defiance is the way that a two year old child begins to assert her independence. She wants to show the world that she has her own identity and is not as dependent on you as she once was. With this newfound independence, she will begin to ignore your demands, especially when you say, “no”.

What should I do if time outs just don't work?

If one of your disciplinary tools it the tried and true ‘time out’, but it doesn’t seem to be working with your preschooler, it’s time to do some troubleshooting.

Time outs don't seem to work on my two year old. What should I do?

Most parents swear by the tried and true ‘time out’, but some children it will have no effect. If you are trying to use time out to discipline your two year old, but it is not working, you need to examine exactly what you are doing.

What should I do if time outs don't work for my preschooler?

If one of your disciplinary tools it the tried and true “time out”, but it doesn’t seem to be working with your preschooler, it’s time to do some troubleshooting.

My preschooler is constantly telling on everyone. How do I stop this behaviour?

A preschool child tells on other children to exert his power and gain favour with parents or teachers.