Difficult and Persistent Behavior--3.10 y.o.

[augustmom]

My 3.10 year old boy is exhibiting frustrating behaviors (like this should be a surprise, right? )

One thing he does is ask the same question over and over again until he gets the answer he's looking for, and even then, he may just continue. This carries into other behavior like the need for me to say goodnight over and over again.

I'll give a few examples:
mommy, can I watch Curious George? Me, yes you can, repeat about 5 times--ugh! Keep in mind that even when I say it cheerfully, it doesn't matter, he'll still ask again.

another example:
D at drop off: Bye mommy. Me, Bye D. repeat at least 5 times--again, ugh!!

The only thing that seems to work is me yelling back at him the answer he wants to hear, and yelling at him to stop it! Obviously, I don't want to yell.

Any advice? How can I stop the repetitive asking of questions?

TIA, augustmom

[hakeber]

I just answer twice and then I say "Asked and answered your honor. Moving on." which he takes as his cue to drop it.

Or sometimes I change my answer to mix it up.

For example

he says: Can I watch Curious George?

and I say: Yes you can!

and he says: Can I watch Curious George?

and I say: Why, Yes, you can!

and he says: Can I watch Curious George?

and I say: I don't know, can you? I don't remember what I said ten seconds ago, do you? did I say yes, or no? hmmmm, I must have said no. Is that right? Did I say no? (with a michevious smile of course)

Usually changing it throws him for enough of a loop that he stops.

Try other forms of goodbye like: see ya later, alligator! to which the response is:in a while crocodile! Or other silly replies like: Smell you later! or Hasta nunca, dude. (se ya never, dude!) or Cheers long ears. So long, suckah.

When he just keeps asking to try and wear me down from a no to a yes I say as calmly as I can "I have already answered that request. My answer is the same. If you would like to know why or you want to talk about it I can do that, but please don't ask me again."

[augustmom]

oh, this is good. thank you! he just did it again a few minutes ago, except it was about his pants and soccer ball.
mommy, I look like a soccer player. me: yes, you do! then he said it again a few times. (I just think this is a funny smiley)

[crowcaw]

What I thought was an odd thing worked to diminish the repeated questions with my girls; after the second or third time the question was repeated I would say "do you want to know if (repeat their question)?" and they would say yes and then I'd answer again and they'd stop repeating. Have no idea why.