Advice needed for my two year old son?

1. 70

   zoey24posted 14 years ago

   Advice needed for my two year old son?
   
   My son is two and a half, and is going through a stage of taking everything out of his wardrobe, he also pulls the drawers out of his chest, and emptys the toy box, i tell him its naughty and tidy it all back up, but then he just does it all again the next night, has anyone else had this problem?

   replyreport
2. 61

   wytegarillazposted 14 years ago

   yes ! i think everyone has , this is where we would tap them on the hand, say thats naughty and make them clean it up . worked with my 3 girls

   replyreport
3. 72

   waynetposted 14 years ago

   I would put a spider in there and say go on do it again I dare you!!!!

   replyreport
4. 59

   EatLovePrayposted 14 years ago

   My little neice does this! Unfortunately, we can't keep her away from doing this, but distracting her with something else she can do really works! For ex, put on the TV, or read them a book. Another option is to scare them, by saying "don't do that, or the rats might come out!" Good luck!

   replyreport
5. 85

   Polly Cposted 14 years ago

   Don't worry about it, it's a common pursuit of small children, especially boys!  It's just a phase, he'll get fed up with it in the end. My son is exactly that age, and he's always doing things like that, and my older child used to delight in throwing every single cuddly toy down the stairs.
   
   They are just exploring - at two they are not quite mature enough to manage more constructive play for very long. Life's too short to worry about the little things.

   replyreport
6. 75

   breathe2travelposted 14 years ago

   Yes!  I have five children, and do not remember any of them NOT doing this! 
   I found having a consistent consequence for unwanted behavior coupled with verbal correction more effective in deterring repeat performances than verbal correction alone.
   Once you decide which discpline method/consequence is best for your child, employ it consistently and lovingly... and hopefully, your son's behavior will modify. 
   
   Chin up!  My four year old does not do it, nor any of my other older children.  My 28 month old has done it some, but we're on "other side"! 
   
   Warmest regards!

   replyreport
7. 70

   zoey24posted 14 years ago

   Thank you for all your advice, it was very helpful, glad to know it's normal for his age.

   replyreport
8. 61

   Lisa HWposted 14 years ago

   I think most of them will do that if they have the chance, and they're too little to be able to remember that they're not supposed to do it. 
   
   When mine were little I got through that stage by not leaving the clean clothes where they could get at them.  I did stuff like keep a spare blanket in the bottom chest drawer, but then keep things like folder jerseys in a container in the closet.  I had little hangers in the closet for some things (they were high, so a two-year-old couldn't get at them).  The main problem was the bottom drawers in bedroom chests.  I used the top drawer for socks as always.
   
   If you think about it, a two-year-old may be able to understand "naught" when it comes to something like hurting another person or an animal.  He can understand the concept of making someone else feel bad.  Or, he may be able to understand/have it sink in, that if he touches an outlet he could be "burned", or if he touches the TV knobs they may break. 
   
   The concept of "naughty" when it comes to pulling clothes out can probably be hard to "get", because, to him, he's just pulling out clothes and the he's pulling out toys - all for whatever his own reasons are (curiosity about what else in the drawer, a wish to try on different clothes just because little kids like it when they know they can change their own clothes, etc.)
   
   When he's three he'll probably be able to completely understand why you don't want the clothes pulled out.  For now, I think he still needs a little more time.  (A bunch of hangers across the closet rod will hold quite a few little kids' clothes, and a few bins on the top shelf can add more space.  Maybe getting rid of whatever doesn't have to be there (for now) and changing to the "high storage" method would help.  A snowsuit or spare pillow from the closet may make better "occupants" of those lower drawers for now.  (No chairs or stools in the bedroom, by the way.     )

   replyreport
9. 61

   swapna123posted 14 years ago

   Agree with Lisa. I used to put all her clothes in a place where she couldn't reach it. As of now, try that and also tell him that it's difficult for you to keep cleaning it again and again.
   After an year or so, you can tell him that he should tidy up if he makes a mess. Even thought he can't fold the clothes, let him keep it back each time he does it. That would make him more careful.

   replyreport
10. 72

    Abecedarianposted 14 years ago

    Well, I had girls and didn't have that problem at all, but I had a 2 year old nephew that I watched one summer, while his parents were interviewing nanny's and he was beyond terrible. He would open all the cabinets and his drawers and dump them, so I went to the store and bought those safety latches that go on the inside of the door/drawer. It allows you a gap to get your finger in there and release it. It worked great.  I did leave him 1 drawer that he could dump and it was his toys.

    replyreport
11. 75

    Moms-Secretposted 13 years ago

    This is where consequences need to come in.  They do not have to be harsh but they do need to be consistent. 
    If you are using timeouts, it is one minute per age and it restarts if they get up.
    
    Childhood behavior is very self fulfilling so there is something about the action that he likes.  Your goal is to remove the positive feelings and replace them with not so great ones.  If the child connects the same action with the loss of something he already has and likes more, he will gradually begin to dislike doing it.
    
    The best part is that you do not have to be overly upset or scream or yell.  Its as simple as 'oops, mommy told you no play date when you do this.  Clean it up so we can try again tomorrow', and stick to it.
    
    To substitute the behavior, you may want to get him a dirty clothes basketball net and have him help you throw clothes into the washer.

    replyreport