Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New profile posts
Latest activity
Internet Search
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Parent Support Forums
General Parenting
Frustrated
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="seriously" data-source="post: 457921" data-attributes="member: 11920"><p>I think you may have some unrealistic expectations for your 4 yr old. Not that he can't pick up the toys exactly. But if it was that many toys - most 8 or 9 year olds would have trouble with that. And that's kids without any challenges.</p><p></p><p>I agree with working together with him (and bring the 2 year old in to help too) on picking up. singing a song as you go (the Barney song "clean up" was popular with my twins) can help make it seem fun.</p><p></p><p>Picking up should be a scheduled activity done every day at least once a day at the same time. Before dinner for example. You don't want to make it part of the bedtime routine since it's potentially stimulating.</p><p></p><p>I agree with the "too many toys" comments. Really, most 4 year olds do not need 3 garbage bags worth of toys.</p><p></p><p>You might want to choose a few toys for him to earn back as rewards for picking up each day. You want him to be successful at least 75% of the time - otherwise you have set the bar too high.</p><p></p><p>I suggest you go through the other toys and set some aside in a box. When you need to be on the phone or somethings going on that you need him to be occupied for a while, get out the box of toys for him to play with. Then you put them back away again until the next time you need them. This should not be an every day occurrence. You want the box of toys to seem special - it's a special treat to play with them so he looks forward to getting that and stays out of your hair for at least a little while.</p><p></p><p>With a 4 yr old, you probably mostly need to just put things you don't want him to have up high out of reach and make sure that step stools or chairs he could drag over to climb on are put away or it's hard for him to do that. I wouldn't leave knives in one of those blocks out on the kitchen counter for example.</p><p></p><p>Do you have some support with the kids? A friend or family member that can take them for a weekend so you get a break and can do some of the things you want to do for yourself? Are you living in military housing or near the base/post? Do they offer any support to wives that might be helpful to you? If not, can you ask to speak to the chaplain and see if he/she has any resources that would give you a break? Maybe you could swap kids with another mom who's in your same situation where you each babysit all the kids for a night or a day on the weekend so the other one has time alone.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="seriously, post: 457921, member: 11920"] I think you may have some unrealistic expectations for your 4 yr old. Not that he can't pick up the toys exactly. But if it was that many toys - most 8 or 9 year olds would have trouble with that. And that's kids without any challenges. I agree with working together with him (and bring the 2 year old in to help too) on picking up. singing a song as you go (the Barney song "clean up" was popular with my twins) can help make it seem fun. Picking up should be a scheduled activity done every day at least once a day at the same time. Before dinner for example. You don't want to make it part of the bedtime routine since it's potentially stimulating. I agree with the "too many toys" comments. Really, most 4 year olds do not need 3 garbage bags worth of toys. You might want to choose a few toys for him to earn back as rewards for picking up each day. You want him to be successful at least 75% of the time - otherwise you have set the bar too high. I suggest you go through the other toys and set some aside in a box. When you need to be on the phone or somethings going on that you need him to be occupied for a while, get out the box of toys for him to play with. Then you put them back away again until the next time you need them. This should not be an every day occurrence. You want the box of toys to seem special - it's a special treat to play with them so he looks forward to getting that and stays out of your hair for at least a little while. With a 4 yr old, you probably mostly need to just put things you don't want him to have up high out of reach and make sure that step stools or chairs he could drag over to climb on are put away or it's hard for him to do that. I wouldn't leave knives in one of those blocks out on the kitchen counter for example. Do you have some support with the kids? A friend or family member that can take them for a weekend so you get a break and can do some of the things you want to do for yourself? Are you living in military housing or near the base/post? Do they offer any support to wives that might be helpful to you? If not, can you ask to speak to the chaplain and see if he/she has any resources that would give you a break? Maybe you could swap kids with another mom who's in your same situation where you each babysit all the kids for a night or a day on the weekend so the other one has time alone. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Parent Support Forums
General Parenting
Frustrated
Top