Normal 5 year old behavior?

[ashdoes]

My daughter just turned 5. Since she is my oldest this is of course is the first time i'm dealing with a 5 year old. She isn't totally out of control, but sometimes doesn't listen to a word i'm saying. This morning while waiting for the bus to pre school she grabbed the broom, and since we don't want our 18 month old getting wacked in the head, i said "put it down please" she just kept walking around telling me she's sweeping. So i say three more times, "put it down" by the third time i'm irritated and angry and take it from her and put it back against the wall. Then i tell her go sit in the chair for your time out for not listening. After that she just acts pissy while she's sitting in the chair. Its the same for everything, if she wants to do it, but i tell her not to, it takes a few times of asking before she'll listen. Or i just have to take whatever it is away. Sometimes she does the same at school, but her teachers are pretty good about being able to redirect her. Is it normal for her to be like this? I really don't think she's the worst kid ever, but sometimes she makes me crazy.

[RockRose]

I hated those doctor's examining rooms with several children.  Something in the karma there,  gads.  I don't understand why they put you in there with preschoolers to wait,  and wait,  and wait,  and wait when waiting in the larger waiting room was fine.  

I think you're doing great to tell her several times,  and if she won't listen,  take the item away and send her to timeout.   I do agree that not acting so irritated might be helpful,  but I don't know. ..

The mistake that many parents make is either giving a child too little time to react to a direction or shouting directions from their place on the couch and then after several shouts,  just ignoring the problem.  (Eeks that makes me nuts to see a parent clearly give an instruction to a child several times and then just give up and make some derogatory comment or sigh loudly in irritation).  

You're doing fine.

[ashdoes]

We're working hard on the time outs, and they do great at home and for the teachers at school. BUT...today at the docs office for my little ones check-up my five year old was awful. Being stuck in a tiny room, waiting for 20 minutes didn't help, but how am i supposed to do a time out in there? I mean i made her sit in the chair, and kept telling her and kept telling her, but it was awful. I realize the situation didn't help, and the whole thing made me nuts. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. It also makes me feel better to know i'm not the only one with a strong willed kid. :)

[Natta1980]

Try not to get angry and irritated.

My son feeds off it. The more irritated I am, the more he misbehaves. Place her in time-out, but be calm:)

[haphazard]

Yes it's normal. She's just testing the boundaries.  What I would say is don't bother asking more than once. She will soon learn that you mean what you say and that you asking once means she either does it or there is a consequence.  It also means that you don't have to get so irritated.

My own kids are 9 and 7 and both will do just exactly as much as I let them get away with.  I'm currently training to be a teacher and our behaviour management sessions tell us pretty much the same thing - don't waste your breath saying anything more than once.

Good luck!