This kid is driving me NUTS!
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: Toddler Times
Forum Description: Is bubs growing up and getting into everything? How do you train them to use the potty? When do you start feeding solids? Share your tips and advice here!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6892
Printed Date: 15 July 2025 at 12:13pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: This kid is driving me NUTS!
Posted By: Anna
Subject: This kid is driving me NUTS!
Date Posted: 20 April 2007 at 9:44am
|
Quinn is going thru a particularly painful phase at the moment. He does not play by himself EVER! And what is even more frustrating is that he wants me to play FOR him.
He wants me to draw a picture FOR him. Or roll out his play dough FOR him. Or build a sandcastle FOR him. I love to play with him but him sitting back and barking instructions at me makes me want to scream! Every day: "mummy, mummy, mummy, mummy, mummy...." IT IS DOING MY HEAD IN!! HOW OH HOW can I encourage him to play by himself? I tried setting him up and telling him I'll be back in five but he just yells mummy, mummy, tille i get back?! I love him but I am damn near gonna hiff him thru a window if he doesn't give me time out! (Gotta go now, he wants me to roll his play dough flat *insert curse words here*) ------------- Anna http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Replies:
Posted By: Bumble
Date Posted: 20 April 2007 at 9:53am
|
We went through a phase like that. It is SOOOOO annoying. Although I did feel special to be so wanted.
I tried inviting a few little friends around. And I would also tell Ethan I was off to the loo. I started by small times away from him, and gradually increased it over time. He still does like it when I play with him, but he can play independantly(sp) now. I guess it is just looking at it from a different angle. He loves you so much he wants you around all the time.. ------------- formerly known as "Bee" Ethan ~ March 2003 Big 6 year old school boy! Micah ~ Aug 2008 ~ Smiley pants who loves telephones! |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 20 April 2007 at 10:10am
|
I tried to give Hannah a full half hour block every morning, learning something new or at least doing something together - hands on. I found that that helped her and I was able to get onto housework etc (and baby Briona) during the rest of the day. -------------  |
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 20 April 2007 at 10:20am
|
I usually do the play and walk away thing, so will instead of doing it for them, get them to do it at the same time. Sometimes, they just like the way mummy does things so much better, their playdough is flatter, the picture is neat, where they might have trouble working the roller to get it as flat as they need, or still be mastering using felts or crayons or whatever. Try turning it around, if you do something for him, he has to do something for you. If you draw him a picture, he must do one for you, so he is still doing something, not just sitting back and watching you play. It could be his way of competeing for attention with his little sis. and with kids that age, any attention, even if it is a crazy mummy who just wants to be left alone for 5 mins, telling him to please leave her alone.. it's still attention.
I set the girls up, play for 5 mins or so, and if they haven't decided what they are going to draw/do/make, by the end of then i can give them some ideas or some incentives for when i come back and check in 5 mins or so, or say "mum's just going to the loo, or mums just going to get a cuppa, and i'll come and sit and watch you make that... for me" he still knows he's got the attention, but you aren't necessarily down there with him constantly. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja 
|
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 20 April 2007 at 10:30am
okay - my advice would be to say "No, mummy cant roll it out for". the more you do for him the less capable he will feel of doing it himself, cause lets face it he will never get it to look like yours. gabriel went thru a faze of "mummy draw it for me". and i used to tell him i cant - i dont know how to draw a dinosaur. now he draws lovely pictures all by himself. you just have to remember to be as persistent as he is. or maybe when he says "mummy draw for me" say "no i cant right now, i'm going to hang the washing, come and help me." maybe if you involve him in what you are doing he will eventually just wander off and do his own thing after he has had his fill of mummy time. |
Anna wrote:Posted By: Bumble
Date Posted: 20 April 2007 at 10:38am
|
Another thought: We got Ethan playing on the Computer with us when he was nearly 3. Some sites to try: www.nickjr.com - Has Blues. Clues, Dora, Diego on it. Ethan loves this one.
www.thomasandfriends.com - who doesn't love Thomas the tank engine! www.bobthebuilder.com Good Luck! ------------- formerly known as "Bee" Ethan ~ March 2003 Big 6 year old school boy! Micah ~ Aug 2008 ~ Smiley pants who loves telephones! |
Posted By: jamesmum
Date Posted: 20 April 2007 at 10:54am
|
James is exactly(sp?) the same at the moment....its driving me crazy!!
I just cant seem to get anything done 
He has to be with me all the time.....I cant even go to the loo without him banging on the door yelling. |
Posted By: Anna
Date Posted: 20 April 2007 at 11:22am
|
Hehe! Lu, I soooo hear you on the toilet banging thing huh! It is ridiculous, when Andy gets home i go to the toilet and LOVE that I can shut the door and lock it and have peace for five minutes!
Thank you all for your suggestions! Nice to know I am not the only one! Bee, it is nice that he is loving playing with me. Give it ten years and he won't even want to acknowledge me I guess! I'll try those computer games! (but then how will i loiter around here?!) Argh! Lil babe crying and the big babe is yelling at ,e ("Muuuuuuummmm, quinny get up??") Will be back! ------------- Anna http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: Anna
Date Posted: 20 April 2007 at 12:49pm
|
Alrighty... so have tried the GandT method and so far so good. Mummy just doesn't know how to work Mr potatoe head?!
And I am trying to entertain him for ten minutes and then ccome right back... seems to be ok so far! It is a bit tricky to clean a house in ten minute blocks tho... The only solution is guess is just to not bother cleaning!! All is good! ------------- Anna http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: emeldee
Date Posted: 20 April 2007 at 1:46pm
Only ONE of yours is driving you nuts? I think mine have learnt how to tag team!!!! I quite like your idea Janine. In terms of cleaning, Andrew has a toy vacuum cleaner that he uses to follow me around when I'm cleaning - and I give him a rag to do dusting. At the moment he thinks it's a fun game where gets to do like I do...little does he know that in seven years this will actually be part of his regular chores time...  ------------- |
Posted By: Bumble
Date Posted: 20 April 2007 at 1:50pm
|
We are forunate here, we have 2 computers, so we sit side by side. I loiter here, and he is doing Bob at the moment! ------------- formerly known as "Bee" Ethan ~ March 2003 Big 6 year old school boy! Micah ~ Aug 2008 ~ Smiley pants who loves telephones! |