Growling 3 year old

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I growl at my little Aspie family members when I am looking after them, to warn them that I am getting angry about something they are doing (or not doing). It seems to be an instinctive thing on my part, and it has always been instantly understood by them - far more effective than words!

I wouldn't make a thing of "disciplining" for the growling - for a three year old I wouldn't call it an alarming behaviour.

Two and three year olds are known for their mercurial mood changes and tantrums. This is because of a range of areas of development all going "full speed" at once. It's like having a tiny teenager who is frustrated by their lack of understanding of what they're feeling, except that they don't like it.

What I *would* do is keep up with what you're doing - asking her about her feelings and brainstorming with her when she does start growling. At three, your daughter is learning to use her expressive language, and this is particularly important to do with how she manages her emotions, both now and in the future. Encouraging her to talk about what is bothering her, rather than ignoring it or punishing for the growling, is the best plan.

Our 4-year-old used to growl, but just recently switched to spitting. We miss the growl.

By the way, I'm new here and glad to find a place where my son is understood!

Mo

8 year old daughter still growling here......guess i'd rather have that than spitting, Mommamo!
welcome, btw

Let me share one of my fondest memories as the mom of an autistic son. My 5 yr old was with out spontaneous speech other than echolalia a year and a half ago and he can't tolerate being in flourecent lights for long. He gets stimmy and seems to just fall apart and go nuts. His little sister had outpatient surgery and I had to keep him at the hospital with me the entire day. Lots of those lights not much direct natural light and by lunch time he was fit to be tied (we got there at 5am). His vocalizations were constant at this point and he is usually very high pitch and carries better than a bose system. He had recently begun doing very deep vocalizations from time to time. I take him to the cafeteria to get him some food...he is out of control, folks are staring, place is packed. Its just normal life for me but as he is sitting at the table he suddenly starts with the deep vocalizations and does these very deep very "demonic" sounding noises that would make Stephen King get chills. Everyone looks absolutely horrified and you can almost see people wanting to come lay hands on him or pray for him. I'm exhausted, nervouse (about daughter), its been nuts keeping up with a son out of controll and suddenly I have this overwhelming sense of just how NON-typical and humorouse our lives are and I break down laughing till tears start flowing from my eyes. It was one of those priceless moments when just about the time you can't possibly take any more than your dealing with you relaize the absolute joy of being the mother of an autistic child.