My DD sometimes asks me for stuff, but she can be relentless if she wants something that moment. Sometimes it is an item in the store (like one of those little plastic princess dolls in the Target checkout lanes), or while I was eating dinner she wanted me to get out her Shrinky Dinks supplies (which I said no to because I am eating and because I don't want to do that with our 2 year old getting into everything).
Sometimes she just gets going over and over, like "please mom, please, please, please?" "Why can't I" "please, please please?" and then it can turn into 'not taking no for an answer" like we were at the mall and they had those machines that take coins for little toys or candy. (It is NOT anything like asking me once daily for a christmas item!)
It is really annoying, especially if I'm trying to do something - eat dinner, checkout at the store, head home.. or pretty much do anything.
Any suggestions? Time out, punishment like a privilege or item revoked, etc?
I have told her why I say no, explained, told her that she needs to stop asking or she won't get it at all, or that I'm going to take away something else, that kind of thing, time out, but she is relentless and it doesn't seem to be improving. Sometimes I think she thinks it is funny (because she'll start chanting and laughing). I am so frazzled from this, I feel kind of mentally beat down in the sense that I feel like the kids hound me like that and DD is teaching our 2 year old to do the same. I never give in, but I should probably be more strict in making her stop sooner once she gets going.
Re: Asking for something relentlessly
We had/have this problem with Monkey. We use time outs. I will tell her no, give a very brief why not and then if she asked again, will tell her that if she pesters me one more time, she will have time out.
And I do it CONSISTENTLY. That is the key. I have made her stand in a corner in the grocery store, the movies and gymnastics.
DD -- 5YO
DS -- 3YO
I say "no" and give an explanation as to why. I then tell DS1 to look me in the eyes and when he does I say, "Ask me again and you're going to timeout. Do you understand?" Sometimes, I take away TV. You kind of have to get them where it hurts but doing the eye contact thing really helps give clarity that I sent the message about the consequences.
Unfortunately, she's pestering you because she knows you'll break, which you have done before.