Help with Almost 3Yr Old.

You seriously need to toddler-proof your house!! All those chemicals and drugs NEEDS to be put up high (like high cabinets above the washer/dryer) and LOCKED. He's a normal curious 3 year old getting into everything. He's not trying to get into trouble or misbehave - he's just normal and he has a strong instinct, like most preschoolers, to explore.

There's nothing wrong with starting to set limits, like saying 'hands off' certain items, but don't tempt fate by using poisonous stuff because the minute your back is turned curiosity will get the better of him. Young children have such a strong drive to explore they are often unable to control their impulses. Until he gets a year or so older and starts to be able to control himself, PLEASE put that stuff out of his reach!

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It just sounds to me like he just needs closer supervision.
Curiosity can get kids in a lot of mischief such as you describe.
It also sounds like perhaps, since he is so inquisitive, that you might want to store potentially dangerous things away from easy access.

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The best advice I could give you would be to put everything that could be harmful to him in a locked container until he can be trusted...I had a son who was like this, constantly into everything, and felt such relief when I knew that all of the household products and medications were out of his reach! He may be bored, so you might try to engage him in an activity when you are trying to get housework done- my 2-3 year old loved to help me do laundry -he put it in the washer for me which was a challenge to him, because he wasn't tall enough to see if it went in so I made it a game. Also, with the laundry detergent, I think sometimes that little ones like to see what happens with different items. It may be worth the time and effort (cleaning wise) to set him up with finger paints, edible play-doh, etc. so he has a chance to use his senses in a safe way. Hope this helps!

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Hi R.,

It sounds like you have a live wire on your hands. My oldest son, now 18, was that way and it was never a dull moment. The rule of the house was, "whatever you do, don't let Jesse get bored or he will FIND something to do, and it is NEVER what you want."

The good news is that your son is probably very bright, inquisitive, and not afraid to try new or different things. Those qualities will serve him well as an adult, but for now, they mean extra work and worry for you.

Lock up everything toxic. I mean in a linen pantry with a door knob that locks with a key. Medicine, cleaner, detergent...everything. Then have a special area that he CAN get into with interesting things for him to do. Playdough, musical instruments like maracas, crayons, paper, books, blocks. I would even go to the thrift store and find an old phone that he could take apart or something to disect and look at the parts. Then when you see him going toward something he shouldn't redirect him to his special stash of stuff. Trade stuff out weekly so there is always something different and interesting, and make sure they aren't things he can find anywhere else in the house.

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His behavior is absolutely normal for his age. He is exploring his world and checking out new things and how they work. No offense, but it sounds like you and your husband need to do a better job of "child proofing" the home, as well as a little better supervision. Cleaning products of any kind should NEVER be accessable to a child, and neither should medicaitons.

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He is just busy, interested in everything, and looking for something different to do. I had child proof latches on my cupboards, etc. to prevent this type of thing. They love to watch us work, LOL. The messier the task the more fun it is for them.
Yes, sounds like he is a little bored, but he isn't getting much one on one attention if you are cleaning up after him because your focus is obviously elsewhere!

If he is getting into cleaning supplies and medicine then it sounds like your house is not child proof enough. All of that stuff needs to be locked away and out of reach. Put toys or plastic bowls in cabinets where he can get them and play with them. Kids are curious and like to get into things but they need to have safe things around them to get into. I have everything locked in cabinets or put up but my 3 year old still got the hand soap and dumped it down the drain and got her lotion and powder and dumped it all over the floor.

My son is like this too and he's 3. And he's taught his soon to be 2yr old brother his behaviors :( It seems like attention seeking in our son, and could very well be in yours. Has he done this a while? Or is it recent behavior?

Sounds normal to me. Lock up the meds and the cleaning supplies, and keep a close eye on him. I turned my back on my 3yo (who is now 15) and he was climbing a book shelf-he'd never done that before. He also climbed over two baby gates (one on top of the other) to get to his birthday cake. Have fun!

I had a son like that. Mine I think was hyper(ADHD) and seeking attention. I had to put everything up or lock it up. You are going to have put everything out of his reach and lock it up otherwise it could be something more serious the next time. Don't assume he knows better he doesn't.

Some kids are more curious about things than others. I think a good start would be to toddler proof your home, doesn't sound like you have ever REALLY had to before. If he doesn't have access to all of the above listed stuff, he can't get into it. Almost three is still pretty young to expect him to understand that those things could hurt him, or that he shouldn't be getting into them.

My youngest daughter is almost 3 and she is just like that. The older two were not. She dumps everything she finds. Last week 2 boxes of cereal on the living room floor, yesterday a bag of raisins on the cat. Children love to dump, it makes a beautiful sound, and things splatter and roll. To an almost 3 year old that is wonderful, and different every time. Its hard to watch her every minute, sometimes I have to go to the potty. She's also horrible about the doors, she can unlock anything and just leaves whenever she likes. I finally had to buy hook and eye locks and put them at the top of all the doors, higher than her chair will reach! She's not bad, just inquisitive. I hope that it means she'll always be curious and smart! I hope the same for you!

Hi R.....yes and no for normal behavior...at 3 yrs old, still keep all cleaners out of reach. But i have 2 older boys ( 18 and 15) and a lil boy just turned 5. the times have changed, what is expected from kids and how we are supposed to raise them is different. Even the shows on nick and disney which we think should be child safe, are NOT. My oldest boys are good kids, but typical teenagers, and my lil one does learn alot from them. So check that out at yer house. I'm mostly talkin about lil one mite learn, "hey, i don't have to listen to mom, cuz big brother doesn't", get wut i mean? and i've never had a girl, but alot of people do say that girls are different, and like to do more quiet activities. Oh, and yes, my lil boy is a handful. things that i have tried, and have helped. 1: signed him up for wrestling (get out energy, plus rough house with kids his age), very important. 2: took away lil debbie cakes ( you'd be surprised the difference thta made) 3: monitored his tv watching ( just slightly), no more Drake & Josh, or I Carly. 4: got a behavior chart, he earned his lil debbie cakes. give it a try...good luck...

My son is 3, and knows better than getting into those things...plus the cleaning chemicals/laundry stuff is put up where he can't reach or in a locked cabinet. You may need to buy child-proof locks for all the cabinets you don't want him to get into.

Also, when he gets into these things, do you discipline him? Hope some of this helps & he starts acting better.

I do not think that there is anything wrong with your child. I think he is very smart, curious about his world and a great problem solver. My suggestio would be to completly and I do mean completly 3 year old proof your house. I suggest putting any medication type material in a locked cabinet, anything that can be dumped, sprayed or spread around should also be kept in a locked cabinet or child proof space. There are locks and cabinet door closures that work great. My other suggestion would be to find toys that can be used in many ways. Blocks are very open ended, things like Connects have many possibilities. Find the things that your child is most interested in and build on that. If spraying is fun for him empty a spray bottle, fill it with water and let him spray the tub or sink. If he sprays anything other than the tub etc, you take the spray bottle. He really sounds like a great kid and Yiu just need to channel his curiosity and problem solving intellegence. Have fun and enjoy him.

R.,

All of the mischief that do not involve sensory seeking behavior, and even if what I am about to say applies to him, you still need to child proof your home and supervise your son much better.

Since every thing you describe is sensory seeking of the tactile kind (even eating the tylenol could be sensory seeking) you could seek an evaluation, because he may have some underlying reason for doing these types of things. You could start with an OT, but I would also make sure that you are not missing something else too and talking to the intake nurse at a developmental pediatrican's office could be helpful.

M.

He is curious and needs closer supervision. I would suggest you put these things in a locked cabinet. My guess is he would climb if you put it up high.
On a side note: I remember my brothers and I pouring baby powder on my mothers wood floors once so that we could skate with our socks on. It was so much fun until we had to clean it up.....and I was much older than three.
To accomodate his curiousity you might get a sand box or water table with thing he can measure, pour, spray etc.
ENJOY! this too will pass

I don't want to be too critical, but I'm really shocked that your son has access to all of these things. 3 does tend to be a mischievous age (especially for boys), and of course, everyone has their own personality. Unless you see him acting out regularly or getting aggressive, I think you can accept his behavior as curiousity/boredom.

But it is very much a concern that your son was able to get not only the Tylenol, but also laundry detergent (a poison when eaten or when in his eyes) and cleaning supplies are very dangerous poisons when ingested (and even just when on his skin, unless they are "green" products such as 7th Gen that are considered safe for skin contact). It's time to hit the Babies R Us and buy some child-proofing supplies! Then, undoubtedly, your son will find something else to get into, but hopefully it won't endanger his health.

Each child is totally different. My son was not like this but his dad has a 3 year old now and I have a neice, whom they are both like you discribe. There are very big differences in how each of the three were raise. My poor child never got left alone. There was always an adult or three playing with him and still is. The other two kids were, although only children, left to play on their own a lot more and are MUCH more independent in personality. My sons grandparents had to put special locks that they made on the door because the three year old figured out all the store baught ones. We had trouble with both of them just walking out the front door.
No matter what you do to child proof, the only thing that will really keep him safe is watching him 24/7. I would, at least for a couple years, but all meds in a box that the three year old can't get open and up high. Buy those plastic child proof locks to put on everything he should get to--maybe try to put all the cleaning supplies in one closet with a key lock door on it and put the key where he can't find it. Watch the 5 year olds toys. She deserves age appropriate toys but they can be very dangerous for the 3 year old. One thing I've always done is have my son help with the household course. They take 3 times as long, yes, but we enjoy the time together and it's a great time to educate on what "Mommy can do" vs. "What son can do". :)
I'm sure it's not anything you have done or haven't done!! :) He is an explorative independent little boy! Just find a way to encourage him to play with his toys!