I have had a similar experience with my almost 3 year old. He thinks that he can get away with anything. Before I had resorted to yelling and spanking and the like, with no positive results. Then I saw Nanny Stella do something awesome with a child like that. The child started to tell her what to do, and she just calmly asked him what he said. The child looked a little shocked, then smiled and said it again even more rudely than before. Nanny Stella took his hand and put him in time out. She then stayed there, not saying anything, and kept putting him back into time out every time he got up. After a while he got the idea, and she set the timer. The parents tried following her cues, and it worked with them too.

I started doing adaptations of the things I saw on that show and I have seen amazing results with my son. I can talk to him without him throwing a tantrum. I can play games with him. The other day I put a movie on for my kids and both of them got up in my lap and stayed there through the entire movie.

It was really hard to hand out discipline like that, but the results have been worth it. I think that some kids just need some discipline to know that they are loved, and know the difference between positive and negative consequences.

Hope that helps!