Tattle Tale

Ooh, I remember those days, and I ran a daycare. I do not remember exactly how I coped, other than I do remember more than once offering to pin a "tail" on a tattler.Probably a scarf or something. I do think it is important for kids to realize the difference between tattling and "reporting" someone hurt or in danger. A first grade teacher I work with tells the tattler "I do not want to hear it. YOU may take a card and write it down. Then put it in the tattle box" That will not work for your three year old, but what if you said something like "I hear that you said the baby touched you, now can you tell me three nice things the baby did?" It will help change her perspective to a more positive one, and the reflective listening on your part will make her feel like you are really paying attention to her. The attention is what she wants. Try looking for things on a regular basis you can give positive attention for. Another teacher always told the tattler "If no one is bleeding, or throwing up and nothing is on fire, then I do not want to hear about it." Good luck on keeping your perspective. I hope you get a lot of good advice on this.

She does this to get a response, and your giving her the response she finds rewarding. "he looked at me" = did that hurt you?..no..he can look anywhere just as you can "he touched my toy" = did he break it? if no...it's OK "he's looking at my picture" = that's what pictures are for "the baby drooled on me" = babies do that, get a tissue and wipe it off "the pan on the stove is boiling over" = Thank you so much, you are such a big help to mommy I don't know what I would do without you (kiss)

There has been some great advice in this discussion. On thing that I've started doing when my kids report that one has done something to another, is to say, "How are you going to handle it?" At first I had to give them ideas, but after a few times, they would figure out what to do on their own, and now they only tell me if something serious is happening. I also told them a long time ago, to just tell me if they want attention, and this seems to head off lots of misbehavior.

If she just doesn't understand at all the difference between the important things and the things that don't matter, either seek help (could be a developmental problem...though she is only 3. I'm no expert; just a thought. Don't hurt me. : P), or wait it out. Good luck with that, sincerely.

i think the best way to teach a small child something is irritating is by doing the same back to her!i had my little cousin sister who had the same habbit adn telling on evryone!.so one day i followed her around and kept bugging her about wat others were doing! even wen all she wanted to do was watch cartoon!:p i noe it sounds stupid..but it worked!:P

She is 3 At such young ages the need for right and wrong order and justice is there and yearning to be made clear. Although it does wear you down remember she looks to you to show her the correct response.

I am now going through the same thing with my grandchildren it is just part and parcel of having kids, they all do it and the more kids the more tales .Sorry there really isn't a lot that you can do except what you are already doing.Yhey will eventually grow out of it but sad to say they will ust grow into the next stage whatever that is

Some children just feel the need to tell on everything they see. I've had them in school, and they were several years older than your little girl. Try calling the different behaviors by different names. She doesn't realize that it's two different things yet. So call the good tattles Happy Tales and the bad tattles Whiny Tales. Or whatever you want to call them. Use your voice and body language to help convey the difference between the two. It will take awhile for her to get the concept. Talk to her about the concepts sometimes. She'll eventually get the idea. Of course, you're walking a fine line here. You don't want her to get the idea that she should tell you absolutely everything just in case it might be a Happy Tale. Take it slow and easy, and don't expect miracles overnight.

I know what you are going thru. My kids are 4 and 5 and it's like a tattle telling contest at the dinner table. Lately I have been trying to let the actual "doer" tell the story and then ask the other if that is what happened. It is hard for them to understand the difference still between tattling and telling a story. But as I always say...one day at a time. Good luck.

One of my children loved to tell tales on everyone. It used to drive me nuts. She grew out of it, but I cannot remember her age when that happened. Anyway, she has grown into a lovely adult now. So often we worry when our children are small but they ususally grow up into great adults. Take care!

The terrible two's and the fiesty fours are crazy times but what about in between. Your daughter has learned something new (tattling) and is simply exercising this new skill. She will grow out of it soon enough PLUS you have been given some very good ideas from others here (which I have rated). You sound like a mom who will persevere. Good luck.

My oldest son (nearly 8 years old) is the tattler in this family. He doesn't tattle for "he touched me." But he's constantly tattling on his little brother for doing some of the same things he was just doing! Lol. As soon as he starts to tattle, I ask him, "Did he hurt you? Did he hurt himself?" If the answer is no, I tell him to keep it to himself. So far, this has worked. He will come to tattle, and I ask those questions, he will either walk away smiling, or he'll say "Well if he did it again he might fall." So he's beginning to understand the difference.

wat is meant by tattle tattle

This child likes to 'tell on' everyone. He/she's a chronic tattletale and will be caught up in some of the following phrases: 'Erin won't let me play.............Jason is copying my work..................Kim budded in front of me in line.........Ben took Evan's snack............ Every classroom seems to have tattletales but some children become chronic and telling on others is a frequent occurrence. This child often uses tattling as a form of threatening other children. For instance: 'I'll tell on you if you don't let me play with you.'

Do time out for the stuff that is not important and then when she gets out of time out ask her why she was there. If she doesn't know explain it to her.

I would suggest that you acknowledge her tattleing as Yes I hear you are you hurt are you bleeding if not send her to do something somewhere else.

lolol yes I had those Days to and I hate to be the bearer of bad News you will not stop it she has to out grow it lol and yes it does drive you crazy and I don't know how I coped with it lol I know sometimes I just used to say to her yes alright and now go and play I hope you will get through it they all go through that especially Girls

At least you have probably worked out that it is totally normal to be a three year old tattle tale! My children (3 of them) age 5,9 and 12 are really bad too. Mostly it is a jealousy thing. And they stir each other up then dob on each other for the silliest things. I usally tell them unless someone is bleeding or not breathing, I don't want to know.

She is still very young and will grow out of it soon. Her behavior is normal. There is nothing really you can do.

Kids will be kids, theres probably not much you can do until she gets older. She will grow out of it eventually.