How do I teach my 3 yr old to respect her things?

Question

We call our 3 yr old daughter destructo because she wrecks alot of her things and ours. She just takes things apart, rips off things, steps on them, chews on them to the point that its just garbage and gets thrown away and she doesnt even care.

Its frustrating when we buy things for her or she gets given a gift and she just destroys it. She has also broke alot of our special things that are now in the garbage....things she knows not to climb up and get.

Any ideas on how to teach her to treat things nicely with respect???

Answer 1

Purple duckie - What in the world does fiber have to do with respecting toys...LOL



Anyway...I would take them away when you catch her starting to destroy her toys. Tell her 'if you can't play with it the right way, then you can't play with it at all." Don't give it back to her for a few days. Repeat the process until she gets the point, and she eventually will, don't worry! When she complains that she's running out of things to play with, tell her if she can play with them the right way you'll give them back. If you catch her doing it again, jsut keep repeating the process. As for your things, i would put her on a time out. If she's climbing on things to reach things that she knows she shouldn't be touching, then i'd put her in her room on a time out. After, you can explain why she can't do that, etc.

Answer 2

3 minutes time out works great. I would also not buy her anything else until she can treat her things properly- Get a Bearenstain Bears book from the library about respecting toys- I know they have one. Show her the proper way to treat things and show her how they are tore up the way she treats them

My 2 1/2 year old did this with books for a while- even her favorite books!! It boggled my mind. Personally I would spank her butt when she tore a book up after she knew that was wrong- but thats our parenting style. We also do time out- 2 minutes for her. And she is getting better. She hasnt ripped up a book in months.

Answer 3

A defiant 7 year previous does not would desire to be medicated. in case you may, community inclusive of your colleges Social worker for resourses for counseling and behaviour scientific care. each and every physique has critiques yet what you choose is a few help...to maintain your sanity and get your infant on the perfect song. perchance sign up him in a high quality Karate college that teaches know and self-discipline. Its a protracted annoying highway yet once you're persistant and consistant you will see a transformation. Rmemeber you are the grownup and you're making the selections. God Bless and carry in there

Answer 4

Well let her do what she wants with her own things - but don't buy her anything new. If she asks for a new toy - explain to her she can't have it because she's always breaking the ones she has. Any gift she gets, is put away - until she can treat what she already owns with respect.



As for your things - every time she breaks something - punish her for it - by either putting her on the naughty step/stool/corner/mat or by confiscating one of her unbroked and favourite toys.

Answer 5

My parents used to take away things they saw me treating badly. And if I broke something I liked, you can be it wasn't getting replaced any time soon. It's hard when they're that young, though...I'd say try getting her some toys that are meant to be taken apart and put back together again.

Answer 6

I have a three year old and hes the same, i have told him time again that he should take more care of things but to be honest some of the time he doesnt mean to do it hes still learning, gradually when they will learn that things break if not treated properly, we tell him that it was naughty and you shouldnt touch things that dont belong to him and hes gradually learning but 3 year olds are very curious and will experiment things to their max i.e breaking them etc.

Answer 7

ok...here's the scoop she has too much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and none of it has any value.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...stop buying !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!and this means everything until this problem is solved...honestly it could take several months and that means no giving in..the rewards here will be huge..next..everything and anything she breaks i would not replace it and i would throw broken items away....i would talk a wee bit on this topic..." We will have no toys if we don't take care of them.."..and i would say "Broken toys are trash"....next...and really all of this is happening at the same time...she needs to have her room organized and a place for everything...and (no toy boxes they teach kids to throw everything into a pile)..she will have very little so..shelves with photos and a place for everything that she puts away...she is a part of the clean up, making the bed and putting item away where they go and she needs a role model with a positive attitude...she may even need someone to show her how to play with her toys...and then put them away...I would say my biggest problem at that age was stepping on toys left on the floor and them getting broken...so we created shelves and toy zones in the house where these items could be left...Once she has very little to play with or put away then role modeling how to play and put away should not be a huge task...now the hard part of this is not buying a toy, trinket, or treasure anytime you go out until she gets the idea about taking care of things...and ...when you say no...you can say you're learning how to care for your things..."One day when you show me how you care for your toys we will get it"...now i think it is up to you to be firm on no more stuff...now if a birthday is close...i would gather but no gifts..no more stuff,,,it's too much and has no value...everyone invited needs to bring a birthday hug for the little girl...ok now when she does get a new little somethig when you notice some changes...then she is to take care of it..DON'T YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT PICKING THAT TOY UP!!!..YOU CALL HER AND HAVE HER DO IT!!...and when you get the item create a spot for it together...another part of this is when laundry is done she could also help with that put away process....it's slow it will take time and work and just so i cover all the bases ..if this is not effective say within the first 9 days...then i would get a time out chair and spot and everytime she broke something i would....sit her on it..and before she gets up i would ask why she is sitting their...ok good luck email me if you have more concerns...

Answer 8

Take her toys away for a few days and explain to her why you did,maybe she will then realize that she needs to take care of her things otherwise she won't have them.

Answer 9

Take away her toys.. this worked great for me.. Every time she threw something, used it improperly (she knows what right is wrong), abused it, colored on it.. we took it away.. she doesn't do any of that now..



to get her to clean up I set a timer, whatever is on the floor is now mine..

Answer 10

Don't give her many things at a time.

Answer 11

I wouldn't do much about her own things, but she must respect your things. Punish her if she destroys your stuff.

Answer 12

the yogurts they have with the fiber in them. if you pick the right flavor your kid will love it and they are unknowingly getting the recommended amount of fiber.... its great