Advice needed on toddler behaviour

[stillhoping]

Ok, so we have all been through it, but I don't think I am handling my DS behaviour very well.. He is 2.5years and is not really interested in his toys anymore. He now likes opening doors, climbing on furniture and turning the lights on and off constantly. After many reminders to leave the switches alone and trying to redirect I have had enough and send him to his room (he is warned) and tell him he can come out when he is ready to listen. Sometimes I am so frustrated after telling him all day what not to do and trying to get him to play with his toys (with me) that I get so cross with him and then feel guilty. What do you do when telling him to listen, trying to redirect, reasoning, explaining and warnings don't work. He is allowed to turn the lights on and off when we go in a room, but that doesn't seem to satisfy him....

[Lolli]

Hi, My ds is roughly the same age and we have the same kind of issues. He's always undefoot, not interested in toys, very short attention span. Maybe it's the age?

I think the way to go is survival tactics, iykwim. Put a sock on the door handle so he can't open them. If he must climb (and for my ds, it's a must), make the area as safe as possible, sand warn him that he can climb, but he must be careful and if he falls it will hurt. Then leave him to it.

With the lights, if it's become a bit of an obsession, I'd cut him off altogether- no more lights, at all, bad luck. But I'm a tough mean mummy like that

HTH. Hang in there, it won't last forever.

[sirenz]

my ds is the same The only thing that works is getting down to his level and explaining why he can't do something, rather than yelling no at him all the time.

We have purposely moved furniture etc so that he can't do these sorts of things and get into trouble iykwim

I would suggest definately not allowing him to switch on any lights, this could be confusing for him to understand when he can touch the switches and when he can't iykwim

Also is it possible he could be bored?? have you tried taking him outside for a run around or perhaps to the park to let off some of that 2 year old energy?

best of luck with it hun

[Lulu]

Ummmm....I used to join in

Switch the lights on and off 800 times and giggle.

I think it might take the 'naughty' side of it away - I dunno. DD sometimes does it when I am cooking (to drive me bonkers) so I ignore it until she switches it back on then I thank her profusely and let her know I nearly had to stop making dinner

[stillhoping]

Oh he is bored alright..... a room full of toys and not a single one touched in days, even when I suggest ones and sit down to play with him...he is not interested. Switches are more fun. I thought I was doing the right thing letting him turn the lights on when we go in a room, so that is takes the mystery and excitement out of doing it when 'he is not supposed to'.... As soon as he got up this morning, we had a chat about 'listening' and that mummy doesn't want to get cross with him today etc....but it didn't work. I'm starting to wonder if he knows what 'listen' means. I must add he has fantastic language and understand skills well above his level.

anyway I have borrowed a few toys off a friend to see how that goes, no way are we buying more to be left untouched. Any good ideas for things I can make?

[jackrose]

What about remove some of the toys and then reintroduce them every now and again. My 2.2DD gets bored of her toys so I always have some older ones in the cupboard to pull out on those days. I find keeping them rotating really keeps her interested, even if only for a few hours.

Otherwise, have you found the ideas for entertaining toddlers thread? It has a host of ideas of things you can do with your toddler from other mums.

I try to make different games as much as possible, skittles with empty toilet rolls, posting photos or pics we have cut from magazines into and old tissue box, dress ups... and this week we discovered Clag! DD is loving pasting things onto paper !

I am sure you have a host of things you do with your DS, maybe just mix them up a bit so they all become fresh again.

[Lulu]

I rant about this one forever.

RICE. Buy a cheap bag, add food colouring, add various plastic containers and go for your life.

[amberj]

Lulu- doesn't the rice get EVERYWHERE? I have visions of finding rice in strange spots for the next 2 years....

[Lolli]

Jess, if you must, gaffa tape the lids on

[Lulu]

I put a sheet down and roll up the edges

check THIS out

[~Kim~]

Lulu's right...it's fantastic. I use a fitted sheet, so the edges are already 'rolled', or I let them play in the bath.

As for the light switches.....hmm have to think about that.....