Teach them not to touch OR put them away? (oh and a vent)

[Nai]

We do the don't touch thing as well but with DD1 it was easy - she didn't touch and understood "no". DD2 is a little monkey and manages to hone in on things that she shouldn't have and laughs when you tell her not to touch - then will go and touch when my back is turned. She gets into all DD1's things and also the dog's things so I think we have a much harder job this time around

[Jennifer13]

I'm another don't touch-er - with one exception: DRAWERS! Drawers in my office and in the bathroom. For some reason they were always irresistible to DD, no matter how often I tried to teach her to leave them alone. In the end, rather than go around stressing that every time my back was turned my office paperwork was being used for scrunching and scribbling or that all of the not-so-child-friendly bath/first aid stuff was being pulled out in the bathroom, I got drawer attachments to hold them shut.

Problem was, after a couple months she figured out how to undo them! I guess it was helpful for my sanity for a couple of months and she was better at understanding then. My stickytape is still a bone of contention between us...

Everything else she was perfect with and from the age of three there's nowhere you could put it completely out of reach anyway. I caught her one day standing on a chair on top of a table reaching the top of my highest bookcase. And I found several small toys stashed in a box in the very back of my wardrobe that I thought was hidden well from view. It didn't contain anything breakable, but let's just say it wasn't intended for children's eyes. I have to try much harder to hide things now!

[~Kim~]

We subscribe to the 'don't touch' policy also, for all the reasons mentioned, so Ali I think you're doing the right thing.
I also understand your angst at which to be more upset with
Which adult in their right mind gives a 1yo a snowglobe?
Obviously she has realised this was wrong on her part so I'd probably not make a big deal over it, but i'd probably child proof the house from her in the future ...

[Astrid]

Mixture of both here. If I really want or need something kept safe, then it is put out of reach, other items are left where they normally live. DD1 is really quite strong willed and has her own logic. I caught her scrapping a big bolt across the new flat screen, which we had told her not to touch, her explanation was that she was cleaning it, something which she had seen us do. Unfortunately a bolt is very different to a cloth.

Whist on a whole I think that kids should be able to not touch things when at other people's homes, my exception is tablecloths. I really stress when at places with tablecloths, as the kids are not really grabbing them out of interest, but normally to pull themselves up or to stablise themselves when walking.

[Saffi]

Do a bit of both here too. Things like the TV etc have always been on display and accessible and we've always told him not to touch. Now he actually knows how to operate most of the equipment. Mind you we have had a few breakages too.

Things like medications and poisions are in locked cupboards so he can't get to them even if he could be trusted.

Funny thing he isn't interested in the cupboard with the Wedgwood dinner set in it, but is fascinated by the drawer in the bathroom that holds my makeup

Like the idea of the "pretties".