Should I Expect My 17 Month Old to Get It?

I think it M. be helpful to say something like "play closer to the house" instead of no street. He understands he can't play in the street but you are bringing attention to the street which is the no instead of bringing attention to the yard or house which is the yes. I notice that my son, who is 18 months old, doesn't seems to think of an alternative to the street if I say street.

What I remind parents is to use your words constantly saying exactly what you are doing.. You will feel like you are performing a play, but this is how your child will understand what you are saying.

"Good Morning!" "I am making breakfast. I will get the milk from the refrigerator (go to the fridge show him the milk.) " am going to pour it in your sippy cup." (Pour it in the sippy cup).

"I am going to feed Henry his dog food. Only dogs eat dog food." (Pour it in the bowl.) "We do not touch Henry's food. Henry will not touch our food."

"I am going to fill up Henry's bowl with clean water. He needs lots of water, so we do not bother or play with his water. "

"When we pet Henry we use gentle strokes. Henry likes gentle strokes." (Pet Henry softly)

You are acting out what you are saying, so he can understand. Imagine you are speaking German and your son is speaking English.. You want your son to learn to speak German, so you are showing him the actions with the correct words.

You are handling it correctly, but just because he can repeat the words or mimic your actions, does not prove he understands..

So yes, continue to use your words and remove him from the bowls an the street. Eventually it will click with him.

It will feel like 100 times..
Remember he has only been speaking words for a few months and walking for a few months. Comprehension will take him a little bit longer.

I think you are doing exactly the right thing! He sounds like a persistent little guy but the reminders and redirecting WILL kick in over time, just keep being consistent.

Normal.

For #1, don't bring him inside but rather, make him just sit down under a tree or on the curb for timeout. Just keep him close to the "scene of the crime" so he'll be able to actually see the area where he broke the rule. With toddlers, out of mind, out of site.

We don't have a dog so I don't have any tried and true suggestions for #2.

Yes, toddlers do require lots of reminders and redirections, and he is still a very young toddler too -- not far off being a baby, really. Please don't expect more of him than he is capable of handling at what's still less than a year and a half old. You are not, as you put it, "creating habits where he hears me and just doesn't pay any mind." That's what my 10-year-old does! But at his age, your son needs the constant reminding. No amount of instructing and directing him can take the place of your absolutely constant presence at this age.

Let him play outside but you must always be there and very close. And bring him in when YOU are ready, and be prepared to distract and redirect him once you get him inside so he won't clamor to go back out.

As for his following directions like "dry your hands" when he doesn't stick to the sidewalk when told -- hey, the sidewalk is outside and in a far, far more interesting world where he is vastly distracted, so of course what you say out there requires much more repeating. When his hands are wet he possibly just wants them to feel dry anyway, plus inside is not as distracting as outside. So it's perfectly understandable that he might usually follow certain directions but not others, depending on what he's doing and seeing and hearing at that second.

Do what you are already doing and remember -- this stage will pass. Just be aware of what he's capable of, and not capable of, at each age and stage, and you will save yourself a lot of anguish like this. There are some good books that outline how kids think and react at different stages and what parents can expect from kids. The series has titles including "Your One Year Old," "Your Two Year Old" etc. It's an older series but does some good basic summing-up of what kids are like at these ages and what to expect. It's available on Amazon.

At this age, just tell him what to do and PRAISE him when he does the right things. Remove things from his reach that will cause trouble. Keep they places where you want him to play attractive. (For example, provide toys in your yard or driveway so he's not tempted to go into the street.) Maybe the street's more attractive--messy sticks and rocks are fun! Mowed tidy lawns are boring. Maybe you need to bring in some sticks, sand, or stones?

After the dog eats, simply remove the food dish. (Unless you're raising grazing animals like horses, you shouldn't set food out all day for dogs or cats anyway. Food spoils and animals get fat.) Then your son can't play with the dog food.

You have an active, normal kid who wants to explore his surroundings. It's tiring, but can be a lot of fun for both of you!

lol I have a grandson around the same age and he will do the same thing. The biggest difference is knowing and wanting doesn't always match up. My grandson will tease by going to things he knows he isn't suppose to go to because at this age they want what they want and they want it now! He thinks it is a game at times. As for the going to the street, tell him when you first go outside "If you go to the street, we go inside" and stick with it. Don't steer him away the first time, pick him up and go inside, even if he throws a fit. You want him to associate going to the street as loss of playing outside. Steering him away a few times before going inside makes it a gamble for him. I can go to the street and be ok with playing outside... I like it to playing with the slot machines in adults "Maybe this time I will win big" is the lure for us to keep putting our money in someone elses piggy bank. Same goes for kids, they are hoping this time they can do it without getting punished. As for the dog water and bowl, take him out of the room each time he goes to it telling him firmly "No, we don't play with the dog food and water" Removing him and not letting him back in there or putting him on a chair for 1 minute in time out would make it a lot less attractive. Last but not least, enjoy ever irratating thing he does and write the fun things down, you will never regret it when he gets older.

Sounds like you're doing great. Keep reinforcing the boundaries, and when he doesn't observe them, remove him from the situation. Be gentle, don't get frustrated, he is learning, and he WILL learn. But it will take awhile. A long while. And lots (LOTS) of repetitions. Try to find the simplest language possible and say the same thing every time. No playing in street. No dog bowl. With my oldest, we established a "stop line" when he was almost 2 - the line beyond which he was not allowed to go without a grownup holding on to him. Then I just was able to say "stop line! No!" and that was all. Also was able to transfer to other situations - here is the stop line at the park. Here is the stop line at school. Here is the stop line at grandmas. Easy for them to generalize.

Also know that he is not "disobeying" - toddlers can't form that kind of intent yet. He is just learning about the world and exploring boundaries, finding out about which things are always the same, and which things change. He's doing his job (explore) and you are doing your job (set safe boundaries.) I know it's hard, but you're doing a great job.

Situation 1: He is probably on the edge of getting it, but is both forgetting AND testing to find out where the boundaries are. It's sometimes hard to know whether a child is interpreting a word or concept the same as an adult would. Repetition is the key, here; if you're consistent, he will eventually get it. And he'll also want to know why bigger boys can play in the street when you drive through some neighborhoods. Hopefully, he'll understand by then when you explain that bigger boys who know the safety rules get to do more things.

One way to help emphasize your 'no street' rule would be to ask him when he first goes outdoors where he can play and where he can't. That may give you a better sense of just how much he understands. But there will still be the forgetting/testing thing for many months yet.

Situation 2: Do you have a way to make a water-play area for your son? I set up a big tub in the summertime when my grandson was that age, and it was his favorite play space for months. When it got cold, we sometimes played in the sink together. A big towel on a non-absorbent floor, a dishpan and several smaller containers for filling and pouring would be fun and highly educational for your son. And he'll probably spare the dog's dish.

You can also substitute dry ingredients for pouring. Lentils are terrific; they feel great, sweep up easily, and don't hurt bare feet if you step on them.

Ha maybe when he's 30! Yes I said thirty!

All he really hears is "Henry" and "Street" ! And then he points to the street and says "street" and you probably say "yes street". So then all he hears is "yes street". He doesn't yet have the ability to comprehend the direction, but yes he does hear you, partially. He is learning what things are but is not to the stage to know what that thing is for yet. You literally will still be telling him not to play in the street until he is in his teens. And then you will still have to tell him 3 times. Hang in there Mama! Repitition is the key to life with a child. Even when he does start to do something the first time you tell him, doesn't mean he gets it.

we did not let my kids in the front yard at age 1 becasue they would not stay out of the street. we played in the fenced backyard only. they do not understand boundaries at this age. It is frustrating for hte kid... (mom keeps telling me no) frustrating for hte mom..(why doesn the kid listen)

I let them start playing in the front yard at age 2 or 3 and they stayed out of the street.

dog bowl.. normal behavior it is fun to splash in the water. fun to play with the food.. give him a small pan of water to play with in the kitchen..

you are doing the right things. this is normal for his age.. even if you tell him 100 times he will still do these things..