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How do you deal with "bratty" kids?

MominatorMominator
in Parenting

I hate to use that word, but man, the neighbor kid can be really bratty. Alyssa is very outgoing and friendly and just has an "I want to be everyone's friend" kind of way about her. When her and Nate and the only ones playing w/ D he can be a great kid, but when there are other kids around he can be incorrigible. Like tonight, I was sitting on my patio and they were playing in the yard together a couple of houses over. For no reason (I could hear the entire conversation, our yards are small) he kept yelling at her. I try to encourage her to handle it on her own, but eventually we ended up just coming in for dinner because he was just being mean for no reason. When we came in the house, he then came over and started playing in our yard. Normally, I wouldn't care, but Alyssa wasn't having it and was yelling out the window for him to leave. Eventually I stepped in and told him that because he wasn't being nice to Alyssa that he had to leave and he did. 

Any other tips on how to deal with this? Like I said, I generally try to encourage her to handle these things on her own, but I have a tough time explaining to her why this little boy is being mean to her for no reason. 

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Re: How do you deal with "bratty" kids?

  • Carol*Brady2Carol*Brady2 member
    My neighbor is the nicest person in the world & I don't think she's ever even raised her voice to her kids.  But her oldest kid is a brat--smart mouthed, bossy, rough physically, takes the kids toys & a know it all.  This kid adored DD1 (who is over a year older than she is) & for a while DD1 did didn't seem to mind her behavior.  I didn't intervene & let my DD just deal with her in her way.  She drove me a little crazy & I did talk to her matter-of-factly much more than her own Mom does.  She was over once with her grandpa (who is just like her Mom) & she would not leave despite pleading, begging, etc from her grandpa & was having a major tantrum, acting out, etc (she was 5.5yrs old)--I told her point blank that she would not be able to come over any more if she did not do what her grandpa asked.  She looked stunned, shut up, stopped in her tracks & went home without further argument.  She hasn't crossed me since--LOL.  Anyway in the past 6mo DD1 has voiced several times she does not like playing with her because she's bossy.  She IS bossy & climbs all over DD1, pushes her around, drags her, etc.  I told DD1 that she does not have to play with her anymore.  And DD1 chooses not to & I'm fine with it.  Now I just avoid situations where they are 1 on 1 stuck together.  So in essence I just let them work it out...in that I let DD1 figure things out for herself.  DD was 6.5yrs old by the time she had had enough.  My DD is very outgoing & has never said she didn't like anyone until this girl.  I believe her & explain that if she is not being treated well she does not have to put up with it...and I'm glad she's stood up for herself in her own way.
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  • Littlejen22Littlejen22 member
    Where was the mother?  I cannot stand when people don't watch their kids and it sounds like that type of situation.  I am pretty passive-aggressive so I would have probably did what you did.
    Jen - Mom to two December 12 babies Nathaniel 12/12/06 and Addison 12/12/08
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  • shouldbworkinshouldbworkin
    I really have no problem telling my friends kids that they aren't behaving nicely.  I don't yell at them, I don't discipline them, but I let them know that behavior isn't acceptable. Sometimes you just have to end playdates when they kids aren't getting along or are getting into trouble too.  I have received calls that it's time to pick up and don't mind making them either.  No harm, no foul, we all have our limits. 
    DS1 age 7, DD age 5 and DS2 born 4/3/12
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