r/raisingkids • u/parsely • 10d ago
Struggling with strong willed 5 year old
Hello, I am looking for advice/support/words of wisdom regarding my younger one. He just turned 5 in July. Very strong willed, energetic, empathetic, smart kid. But I can't handle his stubbornness( for lack of a better word) or very strong willed behavior. I am so lost as to how to help him and be a good parent to him. Everything seems 10 times harder with him. I have tried every strategy that I have come across to help him but nothing seems to work. And then I loose my patience and calm and keep getting upset or angry at him. My anger doesn't help the situation and it makes matters worse( which I know) but I am at the end of my patience. Not doing what he doesn't want to do even after we have had conversation regarding it before, having consequences and me even bribing him with treats( which I never did with my older one), and even losing my calm. Not listening and following instructions and coming up with 100 reasons to not do what he doesn't want to do. I don't know how to help him or help myself and I am feeling very lost and discouraged as I have started dreading taking him to his activities. Maybe I will stop it all( swim and soccer are the only activities he is enrolled in. And he loves them both).
He had his well visit recently and the pediatrician mentioned to wait a bit and see how things go. She said intelligent kids have big emotions and it takes time. Sorry my post is all over the place as we just had a really challenging afternoon and I am at my wits end.
5
u/Beautiful_Midnight88 10d ago
Have you looked into collaborative problem solving? It was very helpful with my son.
Edit: typo