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I wouldn't punish them for exploring. Instead, explain what bad things could happen.
Now, some people may not like me for saying this, but kids, even at 14 months, learn better by experience than by instruction. So it is okay for your child to receive a minor injury in order to learn a lesson.
So you set up the warning, "Joey, if you grab that stuff up there, it will fall on your head and hurt you. Please don't grab it."
Then, when Joey goes to grab it, you let him. Thing falls on his head. He cries. You console. When he calms down you explain, "See, I warned you that if you grab something up there, you might get hurt."
This not only proves to him why that rule works, but it also gives credence and validity to your warnings, so he may listen to them better in the future.
We have 14 mo. old twin boys, and now that I'm unemployed, I'm home with them all day. For the most part, they're fun and I enjoy it. But there are a couple top drawers we don't have locked in the kitchen and a few other things, like the surround sound/tv equipment that they can get to, and they get into these things they're not supposed to constantly!
So what do you do? They know they're not supposed to touch the tv controls, but a swat on the behind or time out doesn't work. They go back and do it again. Is this something that just takes time for them to learn? That certain things are off limits? Should I just keep telling them "no", removing them from the situation, and let time work this out?
Sorry about your job loss! It is important to reinforce the boundaries, but 14 months is pretty young to expect any results. For your own sanity, put the remotes in a drawer or on a high shelf, and put locks on your drawers. They sell plastic guards for TVs and stereos. The one we have just sits under the TV and comes up at a right angle to block the buttons, but it didn't take long for my 2 to figure out how to get around it. It is a stage, but it will seem to last forever while you are in it.
I have 16 months old twins- it is difficult to keep up with them! What we try to do is re-direct their attention, ie give them a book or toy to play with, or even bring them intoa different room. We also do give light swats on the butt (for attention, not to hurt), and say NO loudly. But yes, those blinky buttons on the TV and DVR keep tempting them I think at this age, there is not much you can do other than to be consistent, they will eventually learn.
BTW, I am not sure time outs are suitable for that age, I don't think toddlers that age would understand. But when they fight with eachother, we do give the "victim" attention and cuddles, and ignore the agressor for a couple of minutes. Usually leads to tears from the agressor, but I think it is a good way for them to learn.
Sounds like the same thing we're doing. Time Out seems to do nothing for them at this age. And yes, one does occasionally tackle the other one to take a toy! We're more on top of that behavior.
We put things like pots, pans, tuperware and the like down low in unlocked cabinets...they could crawl into the kitchen open up the unlocked cabinets and it was full of stuff they loved to play with and it was all safe. Just rearrange your stuff. Safe stuff on bottom, not so safe way on top.
We've done that. They love to get into the tupperware. I don't love picking it all up from all over the house! But they have fun with it anyway.
the best thing to do is to put up everything you do not want them to touch or break out of the way. like the others have said kids this age just don't understand nor should you expect them to. you will make yourself crazy trying. neither you or your kids should be stressed.
Someone came into our house the other day who hadn't been in it in over a year and commented that it looked "so empty". I hadn't realized how much we removed!
First off, bless you for dealing with twins. One toddler is hard enough! I am afraid your kids are at 'a bad age' and will wear you out.
Sometimes little kids will do naughty things for attention. My dog is like this. She will get into things for 'negative attention.'
I agree with baby proofing.
My son was a very passive child. He rarely touched things we had around, did not touch plugs or so on..
Eventually we found out, years later, he has mild autism. He was in his own world, probably, half the time.
So, yes, your kids are a handful but you know, be glad of it. (even though it is tiring!)
Thanks! Yes, I'm very thankful that their development seems totally normal. They're quite curious and smart about getting into things. I look forward to the day when we can take them places and have them walk in on their own. Right now they would just take off in opposite directions and get into trouble! Other people have referred to this stage as the "you can't take them anywhere" stage! Although they do like the zoo. We go there a lot since it's near us and they stay in the stroller the entire time.
Their in the changin you part of their childhood. If you dispalnd them how ;hopefully they wil dsiaplend themselves when they get older. There is more to enforcing rules that a few seconds swatting hends or telling them no.
A friend of mine did this with her electronics. If the arrangement of your electronics make it feasible, get a pet supply catalog and select one of those pet gates that you can add on to so you get just the right size to surround your electronics. Some will have a walk thru gate to make it easy for you to access.
Short of getting a cage, that worked for her. But I did offer her my ferret cage for those difficult days.
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