At a loss - DD being... Just silly.

[OceanPrincess]

Janie we should get these girls together again for a play, expend some energy

Heaven, I love that philosophy, and I've been really trying that sort of approach with things like being rude or too rough with her brothers, we just talk about her actions and how it can make me or her brothers feel. We do talk about consequence and how the consequence for those things is not being able to play with them, that if she's mean, they will choose not to play with her. I've been talking about "treat others how you want to be treated".

And the same for things like drawing where she shouldn't. Talk about it and consequence is no drawing for a short time.

But safety things like the seat belt and the door? I don't know how to apply it.

I tried to sit down and talk to her about it and ask why she did those things but she couldn't really explain.

[Heaven]

But safety things like the seat belt and the door? I don't know how to apply it.

I tried to sit down and talk to her about it and ask why she did those things but she couldn't really explain.

I would just do it exactly the same way. But also maybe make sure she can't get out the front door JIC she forgets (a lock higher up or something?). DD1 once tried to open the door for someone when I was in the shower. Luckily she couldn't actually do it because it was deadlocked and the keys were out. We talked about it and she hasn't tried again. She also can't actually undo her seat belt herself, or else hasn't tried, so we haven't dealt with that either. We have a door from the house to the garage that has no lock though and after talking with the girls about it numerous times they now know they are never allowed to open that door. I'm scared that DH will be reversing and they'll run out there or something. They don't touch it now but I still make sure I can see them whenever someone is coming or going JIC. So, I would just accept that there is going to be a few mistakes or slip-ups and keep stressing how important the safety things are, while also making sure that they can't actually do anything too dangerous.

I guess I'm mainly just saying that you're not doing anything wrong. And neither is she, she is acting like a typical 4 year old. So I would just keep doing what you're doing, responding calmly, talking with her about it. I would also make sure to let her know how her actions make you or others feel (i.e. you were really scared when she opened the door because she could have gotten really hurt). She will eventually get it, she's a very clever cookie