Overly emotional 3.5 year old

Hello!

Please tell me this is normal. All of a sudden my sweet, docile little girl has turned into a tantrum throwing, talking back, stomping feet, whiny and crying person. Is is normal for her age or should I be heading to the doctor. For example, the other morning she sat under the kitchen table and cried because I had served her breakfast on the small pink plate instead of the big pink plate.

I just want my sweet girl back.

Does anyone have tips for an emotional 3.5 year old?

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10 replies
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- - ella12, VIC said
  - 21 Nov 2017
    12:11 pm
Is there something that has upset her recently?
- - Schmoofie1983, VIC said
  - 13 Jun 2015
    7:21 pm
You could have written this about my own child!
- - ChrisS, VIC said
  - 06 Dec 2014
    11:21 pm
My son is 3.5 & has recently started this phase too. I just sit with him & ask him about how he feels & why. Acknowledging how he feel seems to make him feel better & he gets over it quicker.
- - mom94125, VIC said
  - 04 Dec 2014
    12:52 am
yeah my child has been doing this since just before two —the emotional state and now is crying about the cup or plate preference issue too. she will also say she wants for eg a popper so you open it and give it to her and then she carries on because you opened it lol
- - Momfunster, VIC said
  - 30 Nov 2014
    10:15 pm
Kids of this age are just getting a grasp on the world, I have 3 boys and the second one is just 3 and yes he has gone crazy…. but just remember that even though it was the wrong size plate, this is a big deal to a child as its kind of like being served a cup of tea when you were expecting a coffee. It is tough but there will be tough days but then there will be tender ones.
- - kymichelle, VIC said
  - 30 Nov 2014
    2:03 pm
My son is also 3.5 and just this week has been the same! It’s as if he grew up overnight but at the same time regressed (crying, tantrums, all over the place). I keep chanting “it’s just a phase…it’s JUST a phase…” (and wish us all luck!)
- - jodiev1980, VIC said
  - 30 Nov 2014
    9:45 am
Totally normal! Don’t stress about it. Toddlers overreact to the slightest thing. My 4 year old son is he same but I have noticed he is slowly getting better as he gets older.
- - busy little bee, VIC said
  - 28 Nov 2014
    10:57 pm
It’s a phase she is going throw
Just don’t use “Santa won’t come”
Or pay much attention or change plates as this encourages
Even knowing you are trying to make it easier
It’s not good as she thinks it’s a game and will continue
If you ignore it as much as possible it shouldn’t last long
- - mle00, VIC said
  - 28 Nov 2014
    9:50 pm
I think at this age they are stuck between knowing what they want and not being able to express themselves as well as they want, I have no actual ideas as to how to approach this problem other than patience, your sweet girl is still sweet, just growing up!
- - blondie, VIC said
  - 28 Nov 2014
    6:38 pm
Its a phase and it will pass. My daughter went through it. She is now 6 and even though most of it has gone, she still does talk back occasionally. It’s a part of growing up and pushing the boundaries to see how far they can take you. Stand your ground and be firm, don’t let her starting ruling. I found being firm and talking to them at eye level (kneel down to their level) and stern voice to let them know that their behaviour is not acceptable. It will pass eventually, may take a month or so. Patience is the key…Good luck