2Yo Eats Crayons, 6Yo Encourages

My 4 year old does the same thing when my 2 year old is doing something wrong. I always tell my 4 year old that if he encourages his sister to misbehave that he is in just as much trouble. Other than that, I have found that the "Twistable" crayons do not seem to get eaten. Crayola makes them. They are a little more expensive, but the kids seem to like them. Also, maybe try colored pencils. They can't eat them or write on themselves with those. Good luck!

Hi K.,
I say, no crayons for both til they know it is not safe to eat them! The little one won't care so much, and it might teach the 6 year old that when they show a good, responsible example, they can have fun together again!
Hope that helps,
E. K. :-)

When my daughter was little, she used to get a kick out of being naughty too. She liked to eat my chapstick. She knew it was wrong, and so I told her if she continued, she'd have to buy me a new one. Sure enough, she snuck into my bedroom and bit my chapstick again!

So, I made her get one of her dollars and off we went to the store. She handed the cashier the chapstick and her dollar. I got the chapstick and she got the receipt. She expected to get the dollar back, but -- nope! That did it, she never bit my chapstick again (and the receipt's in her baby book)!

Make your son pay for the eaten crayons he's had a hand in, I bet he'll never do it again! If he doesn't have any money, make him work it off with an age-appropriate chore (sort the laundry, empty the silverware tray, empty the garbage cans throughout the house, etc.).

Good luck, it'll be good for him to learn accountability early on since he likes to test the boundaries!

The 6 year old should know better and should go into time out for letting the 2 year old eat crayons. Just keep taking them away if the two year old eats them - at this age she should know better, and take them away from the 6 year old if he continues to encourage it. good luck!

K.,
I don't have anything to add to what has already been said other than to reinforce to your older child that they need to be a "big helper" and reinforce what a big job it is to help keep the little one safe.
However, I wanted to congratulate you on your VBAC at home!! Way to go!! As a homebirthing VBAC mama myself, I well know the hurdles you jumped to get there. Way to go!!

Warmly,
L. :>)

My 7 year old is the same way and everytime he does it he sent to his room! My 2 year old doesn't eat crayons but my 7 year old encourages other bad behavior. We are in for a long summer!

I bought these great crayon pencils. All but the tip is encased in plastic and you don't have to deal with the peeling of the paper or broken crayons. If the tip breaks you just turn the end and more appears. I don't think they are as appetizing! They are called Colors-in-motion, but you probably want to make sure they are non-toxic!

Good luck with your little Van Goghs :)

simple - take them away.. they can only use them while you are sitting right there with them. if someone eats one, they get put away for the rest of the day. be strict about it. they'll figure it out

i would take the crayons away until she does not do this anymore - when the older sibling colors they can do it together supervised BUT when she begins to eat them i would take them away with an explanation.
maybe she can use play dough or some other craft....

OMG. My two year old was CRAZY. He is now five. He ate playdough. He also would eat sand at the beach! Oh, it was awful. He would shove a mouthful in and swallow it. I will never forget that. No, my child does not have a diagnosis... although... just kidding. It will pass. He is now five and would never do that.

I'd take them away as soon as they start using them in ways you don't like.

I also agree with the commentator who said that the twistable ones don't seem to get eaten - although I've also noticed that they tend to be harder for younger kids to color with (you have to push down harder to get a nice line)

I would only allow the crayons to be out when you can supervise her with them. Have the 6yr old keep his in a separate place, but only let the 2yr old use them when you are sitting w/ her to watch her.