Play ideas for the ’touching’ child.

Does anybody have any ideas about what I can get for Sam to play with that he will actually be interested in?

He has toys all over the place but to be honest, nothing interests him except touching doors, switches, buttons, latches and other things he is not supposed to.

For all the kids I see at lollipops playing, Sam is the only one who goes around the wall looking for sockets and light switches to touch, doors to open and generally things that are out of bounds.    

Also, I can tell him until I'm blue in the face not to touch things, put him in time out, take things off him, you name it, I've tried everything, he is just one of those kids and I was the same apparently.

I am going stir crazy with him constantly touching things and taking him places is a nightmare because although he is nice and gentle with other kids, friendly as anything and very sweet, I don't get to relax for two seconds because of the touching.

Does anybody else have a child like this?   His attention span is very short, but he is very repetitive with certain things, (like doors, light switches, buckles, buttons, latches)    Are there any kind of toys or activities out there that would keep him entertained and safe and wouldn't drive me around the bend?

Oooo that is a really good idea!   Thankyou.

I wonder how I can get my hands on a whole pile of buttons.



*goes to look on trademe*

buttons are great, what about pegs the spring ones he can open and clip onto icecream containers or jars e.t.c.
does he like to put things into holes? cut a slit in an icecream container lid and let him post cards, paper or anything into it, tissue box is the same. posting is a great activiity.

your plunket nurse she may have lots of good ideas too.

Great ideas! Thanks guys

Freckle, yeah he generally listens to what he is being told and can follow instructions really well, but when it comes to things like this he pretends not to hear me!   Sometimes if I say 'If you touch that one more time you are going straight to bed!' he will shake his head and say NOOOOOOOOOO, but will go straight back to doing it as soon as I look away!

Yes I have one of those touchy kind of kiddies. We have made up a locks, chains & switches board for him to tutu with and he just loves it. On an old piece of mdf i screwed on old light switches, padlocks & chains, drilled out holes he can poke nails etc into & bits of wood with hinges etc. The best toy ever for the budding trademen