Climbing? Mature parent's answser please! No Need For Critisism Either. Just Need Mature Sensible Answers!

Question

My 18m/o insists on climbing everything and her latest is to climb the chairs and onto the table. My 3y/o never did this so i don't quite know how to punish my 18m/o. I've explained no and naughty and she will get hurt as she has done so many times but absaloutly insists on climbing! Well now my 3y/o is in the whole thing and joins in the climb and yesterday i got so fed up of them not listening that i put them both in time-out in their rooms for 3 minutes 4x!! 2x today. But, they still kept climbing. My 18m/o has fell so many times even when i've moved away chairs but then they use toys to climb on the table, so i took all them away, now they have nothing to play with today plus they have bruises everywhere. On Mon. My 3y/o starts school my 18m/o in playgroup. I don't know what else to do to make them stop, today during lunch my 3y/o pulled the chair my 18m/o was sitting in and they both fell. And i won't let then eat on the floor. Spanking doesn't work and neither does talking.
T.Y

Answer 1

If they are in danger of hurting themselves, you need to be firm with them. It can take children many many many repititions of a consequence before they "get it," especially at that age. At 18 months, they barely understand the concept of a consequence. She certainly can't understnad what "naughty" means.



Climbing is normal. Take them to a park so they have a chance to climb safely. Taking all toys away from an 18 month old is harsh, and they're going to go bananas with nothing to do. Supervise them closely, provide outlets for their energy, and give consequences consistently, every time. Don't take your eyes off of them. At 3 years old and 18 months old, it's not safe to have them unsupervised together anyway. A 3-year-old can hurt an 18 month old in the blink fo an eye.



I find that my little ones tend to have bad behavior for one of a few reasons: they haven't been out of the house to run around enough (and they need a LOT of that), they're hungry or tired, or they need your attention and misbehaving is a sure way to get it.

Answer 2

My son is also 18 months and he climbs EVERYTHING!! He is a little monkey lol



I find the best way to prevent the behavior and keep the peace in our home is to take him out every afternoon and let him burn off his energy. We go to the nearby park, the kiddie pool or the playground in the mall every single day for at least an hour. This gives him a chance to run and jump and climb (and also ensures he will be nice and sleepy at bed time lol)



As far as the bruising goes...don't get overly worried. Most adults (especially those who work with small children) understand that toddlers fall down. There is a noticeable difference between an "accidental bruise" and an "abusive bruise." Most abusive bruises are on soft parts of the body (like inner arms and tummies) and most accidental bruises are on hard parts (like foreheads, elbows and knees)

Answer 3

First try making your 3 year old feel like you need help teaching her little sister how to be safe. She can tell you when she sees your younger daughter climbing and also set a good example for her. I have worked in a daycare and had experience with climbers. Sometimes I felt like I spent my whole day stopping children from climbing. Thankfully my son was not a climber. If I were you I would take her down and put her in time-out (the corner) for 1-2 minutes. This is going to be tiring for you. Hopefully she will get the point and get sick of sitting in time-out for half the day. Remember time-out should not be fun. No singing, dancing, talking, watching TV. I have go as far as standing or sitting in front of my son so the only thing he can see is my back or the wall.

Answer 4

My daughters are 2 years and 7 months. I am worried about this also, because my 2 year old is a climber and I'm afraid she will influence the baby. We splurged a bit and bought this climbing toy with tunnels and bars for the outside. It is specifically made for toddlers, so it is safe. She started using that to climb in. When it started getting cold out we cleared space and put it in her bedroom. It helped a lot. She wasn't so focused on climbing on everything in the house. Redirection is sometimes the only answer when punishment doesn't work. Good luck and don't worry about the bruises. Kids will play hard and most people understand that.

Answer 5

I think you should go by a little tykes plastic slide. It has about 3/4 stairs and only stands about 2.5 feet tall. let them climb up and down that, plus they can slide. This can be kept indoors or out.

Explain that this is the only place they are allowed to climb. If they climb anywhere else then they have to be punished. Time-out should work but be consistent. I have a 17month old who understands exactly what I mean when I have to use a timeout. In fact now I just ask him if he wants to go to time out and he will stop whatever he is doing wrong.

It sounds like your kids , like most, have a ton of energy. Help them burn it and weat their little butts out. Maybe if you take them to the park or just out in the yard and let them run around then they will be too tired to climb all over the place.



As far as what people say on this site - forget it!! People are just rude sometimes!

Answer 6

The climbing is a phase that she is going through. Not all kids climb. My eldest son climbed from the moment he could walk. In the end, I held up with discipline and always took him down from where he was. You can't really teach them consequences, so getting them down is the first step. Time outs are the second step. I reiterated how dangerous it was and that my furniture was not to be climbed upon. We also spent a lot of time at the park and they learned where it was acceptable to climb.



You are doing the right thing and eventually the climbing phase will pass. It's scary for you right now because you don't want to see your children hurt. All you can do is reiterate what you are currently doing - you are on the right path with this. By the way, both of my children know that it is unacceptable to climb on furniture - it took a LONG time for that to happen! Good luck!

Answer 7

My son is 18 months and he has fallen more times then I'd like to admit, so don't feel bad. You should set up someplace they're allowed to climb. I used a few boxes and storage totes in different sizes and made a little mountain in the living room, it's not pretty but he loved it. I also got him a little climbing toy for outside, he loves that. I turned the chairs around backwards at my kitchen table so he can still climb into the chairs, but he can't get on the table. He hasn't figured out to push his toys over yet. I hope this helps.

Answer 8

I don't know what to say, I usually just tell my daughter "NO NO" and she stops. I have had to pat her bottom before and she started SCREAMING like I had beaten her but she is soooooooooo sensitive, espacially when daddy calls her attention.....that really breaks her heart.......but I know what you mean about the bruises. My daughter will be 14 months on the 26th and she climbs up and down the stairs all day long and I am so paniced that she will fall and break her neck.....one day she was climbing down the stairs with toys and she bent her head down and hit her face in the tile and it left her a mark and a big bruise, and then she scratched her back climbing as well and I took them to the doctor yesterday for a check up and I felt so paranoid like he was going to think I beat her......also last night she was whinning cause she was tired but she wanted ice cream as well and she was begging everyone for some.......finally my husband said, just give her some of her own, so as i was at the counter getting it ready, she comes crying and whinning while rummbing her eyes and she trips on my legs and falls head first into the kitchen cabinets and bot a big KNOT on her forehead........kids will be kids I guess huh?

Answer 9

My gosh, noone would say you are an unfit mother! You are doing your best to get through this phase as safely as possible. Thats what this is, a phase. I'm sure once school starts and the little one goes to play group, they will be into something else. In the meantime, maybe set up a small jungle gym in her bedroom or playroom. (little Tykes make plastic ones) Try to insist that they can only climb on the gym. They will probably continue to climb the chairs, but you can direct them to the gym. Don't worry, this will pass.

Answer 10

bruises are a normal part of childhood. do you live near a park where you can let your daughters climb on the jungle jim? if you don't have a good park to go to then i would set aside an area of the house where they are alowed to climb and let them know the rest of the house is not for climbing. being a parent is tough and eventually they will out grow this defiance. good luck i'm sure your doing a great job raising your girls.

Answer 11

Sounds like they don't have enough to keep them stimulated enough to keep them AWAY from the climbing---My son was a terrible climber --I was in the doctor's office all the time with him for cuts and stitches because of his climbing "ability"...it got to where they questioned how my son was "REALLY getting hurt".... so I started letting HIM explain how he got himself hurt and said NOTHING.... this went on until he was almost 4 YEARS OLD....he did one last great climb---on something I had ALWAYS told him not to touch----the milk crates I used for shelving in his room--stacked all together... well he climbed them and they AND his toys came tumbling down----8 stitches in the top of his head... I mean I ended up on a first name basis with his pediatritian we saw him so much.... but he did eventually stop-----My son was and still is actually ADHD and needed MUCH More stimulation then he was getting... You have to be consistent all the time... can't let them START climbing and then punish them---gotta catch them in the ACT and get them off QUICKLY---if they are able to make it to the table, then someone isn't watching them very well. once they get it through their heads that every time they go to climb they will be punished, they'll stop but you MUST BE CONSISTENT---anyone else who watches them also must be consistent.... if your 18 month old starts climbing in Day care, maybe you could see what THEY do to curb her of it...and then USE it....but do NOT let them climb till they reach the table top or whatever else they are trying to get to.... MY son used to climb between doorways---he could get all the way to the top of ANY open door...when he became an adult, guess what his favorite hobby became---ROCK CLIMBING!!!!!!

Answer 12

I know that this is normal behavior. I used to climb out of my crib according to my mom. I don't really know how to brake them of this, kids will climb it is what they do. Have you thought about maybe a toy that they can climb on outside, or in a playroom? My nephew (who I helped raise) and I would make a game out of it sometimes, where we would take all the pillows we could find in the house in order to be safe and he would climb on the couch or on the beds. But if he did it with out the pillows and with out me there to watch him and did it on something other than the couch or bed then he got into trouble for it. That might work. I hope it works out for you!!!! Good Luck!!

Answer 13

Just continue to tell them no climbing when they do it and follow through with the time outs each time its the only way...I understand your frustrations I have a toddler as well and sometimes they can drive you up a wall...its not that your an unfit parent toddlers are tough.....I wish you the best and remember the best thing to do is be consistent!

Answer 14

Just stay your ground and keep putting them in timeout, take things away, lose privlidges. You just have to stand your ground and keep saying no. Good luck. I have two rugrats myself and I understand where you are coming from about the bumps and bruises. But, if you aren't doing it, and your kids don't act like they are abused, then don't worry. You know you are a good mother and I'm sure others that know you know that too. Don't stress about it. Like you said, children will be children. Good luck!

Answer 15

Try setting up an area for them to climb in. Like convert a small space in your home. Fill it with pillows, blankets, or mats and let them go at it. Just be sure to tell them that it's the only place they're allowed to do it.

Answer 16

My son climbs everything also. I think its funny. If he gets hurt then he gets hurt nothing can do for it. I dont think your unfit, dont think that of me either. Do you have a playhouse climber? They sell them at wal- mart and toys r us. We are going to get one for our son and hope that will help.

Answer 17

the best thing to do, is tell them the consequence (like time out), and FOLLOW THROUGH 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



if EVERY TIME they climb where they shouldn't, IMMEDIATELY tell them, "NO - you can't do that. It is a time out". and do it.



if you only follow through MOST of the time, it won't work, because kids are SMART and will test your limits.



good luck! this too, shall pass