acting out

[Jessica326]

My daughter is 2 half yrs of age, and I know she is acting out right now.. my husband, her  father left for the Marine Corp boot camp... and ever since he left she is having a super hard time. I tell her to do something and she tells me No. I have tryed time outs and I am trying to understand and help her she cry's for an hour each night for her daddy, and it just breaks my heart i just tell her he will be home soon he is at work. She screams at the top of her lungs when she does not get her way, and when i am cooking I tell her stay out of the kitchen mommy has to cook she looks at me and says no. I remove her from the kitchen then put her on time out for not listening then when i go back to explain she laughs in my face, she has never been like this it seems likes it getting worse.. my question is, is this her acting out and how do I get control on it? Or is this part of developing? She has always and still is a good child I just need to get advice to help. Please help me... she is  daddy's little girl and they are close, I need advice to get her through this.

Thank you
Jessica

[margypops]

It sounds as if you are upset at him leaving and are being to hard on your daughter, why cant she saty with you in the Kitchen? help you she needs extra attention not pushing away, time outs on a young child only make them more upset as you are sending her away again. Temper tantrums are considered normal in small children they are a part of development frustration, as language skills increase tantrums decrease. Try distraction before the tantrum begins. She isnt really acting out you have a small problem with child/parent interaction,focus on her positive side, take her outto play, distract her with games, parks and fun.