My 2-year-old is completely Out of Control!!!

**crystalb21** · 11-12-2008 12:42 PM

I am currently living in Mexico and I have been sending my son to the same daycare for a year. It was tough at first and then it was fine and then it has become AWFUL!! He is hitting all of the children, the teachers, throwing things at them, screaming in this awful high-pitched scream that scares all the kids and just doesn't listen. I understand that he is 2 and with that comes a lot of acting out, but I am out of ideas and on the verge of tears!! He is going to get kicked out of the daycare, I'm just waiting for the call. Since the time change this attitude has developed. I've kept him home for the past 3 days in hopes of regulating the sleep, but when I took him in today, they called at 10 telling me to go pick him up. I am SO frustrated!!! I am out of ideas on discipline, I've tried different things, but NOTHING is working!! HHEELLPP!!!!

**xfwc** · 11-12-2008 04:53 PM

First thing I'd make sure he isn't getting any caffeen. Theres lots of ways kids can get it like collas and fizzy drinks and other hidden ways.
Then make sure he gets a nap in the afternoon. I bet he deosn't like a nap in the afternoon. One way is to tell him all he has to do is to pretend to take a nap and if he can fool you that he took a nap that will be good enough. Lot's of times they go to sleep pretending to be asleep
Living in Mexico now when not before? Big change? Having a hard time with that? Is there a kid at the day care that bothers him? Maybe you need to ask him about stuff like this that you haven't thought of yet.

**sourpuss** · 11-13-2008 07:28 AM

My friend was having the same problem with her son. They figured out that part of the problem was that they were letting the kid sleep in their bed since he was born and was now having problems with independence and acting out.

You're in a tough spot, I wish I had some good advice for you.

**TWills32** · 11-13-2008 09:20 PM

Diet can be a huge factor. What are they feeding him there? Or do you provide the meal/snack? Foods with high amounts of sugar, dyes, and processed foods can cause kids to act out. Hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, soda, anything like that needs to be limited.

Or like mentioned above, talk to him and ask him if anything is bothering him at daycare or in general.

**crystalb21** · 11-23-2008 09:48 PM

Thank you for your advice. I know that sugar here in Mexico is a big thing and I really try to watch that!! He hasn't had caffeine in a beverage since he was young!! We've been in Mexico for almost 2 years and he has never been like this. I understand that he is a 2-year-old and bound for act-outs, but this is just stressing me out!!! I put him down for a nap the minute he starts hitting, needing a time out or gets physical. That's when I know he's tired. But I've noticed that he goes to bed before 7:30pm usually and has a different wake up time everyday. Most of the time it's close to 7am. However, by 9:30/10, he needs a nap and if he's willing, he sleeps for a couple of hours. Sometimes he goes back to sleep in the afternoon. I am at a lose!!!

**rileysbestbet** · 12-06-2008 06:29 PM

This is going to be something I have not seen mentioned here yet...It may be something physical. My oldest would act out, in some ways just like your little one, and I would be at the end of my rope. I would do time-outs (yes, they do work on the little one's too), and even had the kindergarten teacher suggest a child psychologist due to the fact that he could not sit still and always seemed to gaze about and have a very quick temper. Finally when he was in 2nd grade I noticed he was covering one eye while doing homework. I made an appointment with an eye doctor the next day and discovered he had 20/200 vision in one eye. That means he could only see shadows in that eye. We had to get him a single contact lens, but the change in his attitude was short of miraculous. He is now 23 and will always wear a single lens that is specially made, but for those first years he was so frustrated and unable to articulate it to me. Food for thought.

**Skybluupink** · 12-29-2008 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by rileysbestbet

This is going to be something I have not seen mentioned here yet...It may be something physical. My oldest would act out, in some ways just like your little one, and I would be at the end of my rope. I would do time-outs (yes, they do work on the little one's too), and even had the kindergarten teacher suggest a child psychologist due to the fact that he could not sit still and always seemed to gaze about and have a very quick temper. Finally when he was in 2nd grade I noticed he was covering one eye while doing homework. I made an appointment with an eye doctor the next day and discovered he had 20/200 vision in one eye. That means he could only see shadows in that eye. We had to get him a single contact lens, but the change in his attitude was short of miraculous. He is now 23 and will always wear a single lens that is specially made, but for those first years he was so frustrated and unable to articulate it to me. Food for thought.

I agree with the poster above. Have the daycare call out specific consequences, like he won't get snack at snack time, doing time-outs or taking away something he values, most likely a toy he likes to play with and most importantly, follow through. When my daughter was 2 all of these things worked and I would also smack her hands lightly when she would get out of control. The act of smacking her hands didn't hurt her physically, it hurt her feelings that mommy was disappointed in her and I would verbally communicate that. Kids want to please you, so verbally stating that you are disappointed in them or that you do not like the act they are displaying can reach some kids.

A consistent schedule is crucial and maybe some of his schedule has not been routine or has been disruppted. Don't let him sleep too much. Going to bed at 7:30-8pm is pretty normal, waking up by 8am would be good and then a nap sometime after lunch for an hour is ideal. Bottom line, kids need structure. Good luck to you!

jaybeth88 · 12-30-2008 09:35 AM

Something else you can look at, along with the vision problem, is forms of Autism. My younger brother was the same way at two, and he was an absolute He11 to raise for my mother. She eventually took him to see a doctor, who told her he was autistic. There are so many different forms of the disease, and sometimes even a seemingly normal child can go several years without being diagnosed. But because Ryan was caught at 2, he is now living a pretty normal life. He goes to regular high school classes, has a job, and manages the basketball teams with ease.

I would get a check up done to rule it out, in any case. It could really help narrow down the list in trying to figure out why he acts this way. Best of luck!

**midknightsangel** · 07-14-2009 04:22 PM

I have a 2 yearold and a 1 year old and i am at my wits end and don't know what to do he is out of controle i have tryed lots of things and nothing is working some one please help me

**Mayra** · 08-25-2009 08:06 AM

I feel your pain. I also have a 2 year old son(will be 3 in November) that is out of control at times. He never listens to me when I tell him to do something. I have to tell him over and over and he just sits there or looks at me and smiles like saying "I'm not going to do what you say!" He also talks back to me and raises his hand to me if I don't let him do something or if I hit him. On top of that, he is also very aggressive and rough with my niece who is the same age. He will go up to her and punch her in the stomach, kick, bite or pull her hair for no reason. I have put him in many time outs, given him spankings, smacked his hand and told him not to do that to her cause it hurts and she will have an owee, but nothing works. I take him out of time out and he's back to doing something to her within seconds. My sister and I live together so his behavior causes a lot of arguments between us cause she is sick of him beating up on her daughter. She also yells at my son and calls him uncalled for names like little and which makes me mad cause you don't talk to a 2 year old like that no matter how difficult he may be! He's not an adult but she talks to him like if he were one. I tell her I don't appreciate her calling him those names and she just tells me to shut up and learn how to discipline him. I can only give him so much discipline and that doesn't seem to be working so I am at my wit's end also! My son is also very hyperactive and is always jumping or running around which also annoys my parents who also live with us and are elderly. I also have anxiety so I fly off the handle very easily and scream at him at the top of my lungs or spank him hard and then I feel so guilty! STRESS STRESS STRESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!