Annoying Child!

[Lila]

My four year old daughter spends all day, every day doing everything she can to annoy everyone in the family. Repetitive, annoying sounds, picking and prodding her siblings, anything to get a rise.
I suppose she could just be bored, but I don't know what to do since it's a time when money is really tight and we can't get her involved in anything that has a price. Even if we did, she is shy. She tends to withdraw in group situations and would not participate. I don't know what to do with her. She's driving us all NUTS!!!:

[4evermom]

4 is a really bad age for some (she sounds just like my ds). I remember there being some good threads in Gentle Discipline about it. My ds needs a lot of interaction. Doesn't have to be anything organized or that costs money, just trips to playgrounds or playing games.

[cdahlgrd]

libraries have free story times, free zoo or museum days, just taking a walk and looking for bugs.

4 was hard here too. Ds is now learning more acceptable outlets at 6.

[LynnS6]

Things to think about:

What can you do with her at home? Is this a cry for attention? How much time do you spend playing with her? Sometimes 30 minutes on the floor with her without an agenda really helps.

How much structure do you have to your day? Some kids need more structure than others. So a 'plan' for the day really helps. My kids are much happier with 'down' time if they know what's coming next.

How much outside time is she getting? My kids need a lot. Outside time in the AM really helps.

Is she getting enough sleep?

Suggestions for things to do:
4 is a good age for board games. You can get cheap used board games at Goodwill or consignment shops. Try freecycle too if things are really tight. A lot of parents might be willing to pass on Candyland or Chutes and Ladders or Uno.

Playdough, water, sand or other sensory play.

Art - painting, coloring - go outside and collect leaves and sticks and make a creation. Save some of your recycling/wrapping paper/ribbons, weird kitchen stuff and let her glue it/tape it together

Walks - I love going for walks with my kids. I get to hear them, and I'm not distracted by things to do in the house.

Chores - have her help you do stuff around the house. Real stuff - like cooking, cleaning etc. My kids hate to pick up their toys, but they love to mop the floor! And they've been doing it since they were 2 or 3. Ditto for laundry, cooking and washing windows.

Playdates - are there any other kids that you know about her age? Could you trade playdates with someone. Most people I know would love to get a 4 yo off their hands for a few hours!

This website also has good ideas for thngs to do (cheap):
http://magicalchildhood.com/index2.htm