Frenzied Preschooler...

Sorry, I give mine a simple swat on the hiney and then he sits in my lap for time out. He usually starts a melt down this way and when he is done...sometimes he is asleep.

Destruction of property will escalate and it needs to be stopped now. I cannot tell you that you need to give him a swat, that is what I choose to do but some parents don't and can have a heathen as well. Swatting a child does not teach a child to hit. Some kids who gets swats never hit.

He won't watch videos?

He is done with his nap. Give up quiet time, and introduce video time. 60 minutes of peaceful quiet with him zoning out to the TV.

I would increase his physical activity greatly until you can get him to start taking a nap (first out of exhaustion) or have quiet time (again, out of exhaustion). I agree that his behavior seems to be from being over tired, but if you can exhaust him physicaly from exercise, he'll have no choice but to take a nap or quietly watch TV, or possibly lay in his room. If you can do this several times a week, the nap or quiet time becomes a habit and you won't need to constantly keep up the high level of activities. Some activities you can do is take him to jump zone in Niles (8.00 during the week/10.00 on weekends,), indoor play centers (Nibbles Cafe, Deerfield Park District, McDonalds), pump it up in Buffalo Grove, etc. To combat the overtiredness, you can put him to bed around 5/5:30 (I know it seems early) for a few nights until he catches up on some sleep and becomes more managable in terms of behavior-then you can try and institute a routine of nap/quiet time that is consistent every day. I feel for you-I know how difficult a 3 year old is when they are overtired-NOTHING works-so you have to beat them at their game-either give them so much physical activity that they give up or put them to bed earlier until they can catch up a little and become more managable.

yes.. boys are crazier the more tired they are. my son is 4 1/2 and gave up naps almsot a year ago.. but he could often use a nice nap.. I dont have a suggestion.. except experimenting with an earlier naptime. a later naptime.. or maybe an earlier bedtime. most kids get up at the same time no matter when they go to sleep.

maybe you can lay down with him???

Even at that young age I did not talorate my boys distroying things they would get spanked. If you let him continue to get away with it he will keep doing it. I know it's frustrating!!!! I would tell him look if you can sit quietly or lay quietly and watch a movie you will not have to take a nap. My youngest at that age stopped naps. Find a movie that he likes and pop it in. just give him two choices.

Good luck and God Bless!!

My little girl gave up naps too, wont sit still for most movies but loves how to train a dragon and astro boy. Find a movie he likes and stay consistant. This winter ive tried to find activities outside the house that will wear mine out and this, along with a sitter who is on the same page, has really helped.

Keep trying with the time outs. 3 minutes only. The length of time should be equal to their age. If he get out...put him in again. Buy a special time out chair and a special timer for time outs. I still use time outs on my 6 and 9 year old. When the time out is over get to his level and ask him why were you in time out? Then say, tell me you are sorry. It does make them think about their behavior.

He's 3.5 - he's definitely old enough to understand not to damage the house or throw things in the house! Throwing a space heater into a bookcase would definitely earn him a swat in my house!

I would tell him that every day he doesn't take a nap or sit quietly for quiet time he will go to bed an hour earlier. Make sure he understands that he doesn't have to sleep, but he does have to be quiet and still.

Or you could take everything that's not nailed down out of his room and then put him in his room for nap or quiet time and let him do what he will.

I truly believe if time outs don't work and he's being that destructive, that he really needs a swat on the rear so he understands how serious you are about curbing this behavior.

A swat on the rear will not "teach" him to hit.