Toddler Not Wanting to Leave Home

Force him- no, no way.
See YokaReeder.com- she is an amazing help.
Let him stay home- feel safe.
Talk to him.
the job( I think) is to make him safe, feel safe.
I am having trouble thinking of a doctor who would want you to violate that.
I'd change doctors.
Best,k

I think that you have to trust your maternal instincts. If you as a mother think that you need to force him, than trust yourself. If you as a mother think that he needs this time at home then stay home. Also how is this effecting your life? Are you a SAHM who can grocery shop on the weekend by all means stay home. Are you a working mom who is breaking important commitments to stay home well then push a little. Talk to him, talk to him, talk to him. Do not be affraid to get counseling or involve outside help either. Most importantly trust yourself. I will be praying for you. Good Luck!

I'm never a fan of the cold turkey method on anything having to do with kids. battling with them never results in anyone winning. i wholeheartly believe that encouraging and supporting insead of forcing goes miles for self esteem and trust. there is usually something underlying (rational and not rational) that makes kids act out. it could be something a small as a loud noisy truck that flew by one day to set off a fear at this age. how you handle it can set the stage for how your son will communicate his fears with you and how he will handle them. Or maybe it is just a control thing and he is looking to see how you react.

you can start by talking to your son. Not sure how well he communciates at this age but you be surprised how well they can communicate with their body language when they don't have the verbal words. talk about places you have gone recently and things you have seen to see if you can pinpoint the issue. in simple, short sentences you can tell him about things you did/didn't like and how you handled them.

until then you can start small with fun things like for example coloring on the driveway with sidewalk chalk. tell him that you are going to color in the drive way with your new chalk and you would like him to help you color becuase it is much more fun to color with him around than by yourself. if you ask his permission he is going to say no (that's what two year olds do!. tell him what you are doing and that you will be coming back inside to eat lunch when you are done. and stick to your word. start small and build from there. if you get to venture further be really clear on where you are going, what you are going to do when you get there and when you are coming back. listen to what he has to say/watch his body language.

if it is a control issue - give him something that he can control - pick a toy to take, pick out what to wear, or snacks to bring, etc. i have a two year old and i found giving her little areas of control with in her world has been a huge tantrum diffuser as well as helped us set up boundaries.

some days we get so wrapped up in things that we have to remind eachother to take a step back and take another look at things. your mommy gut is telling you to do this. Good luck and hang in there.

I agree with Michelle F on all she said. Give it a few weeks and see if you can figure out whats causing the issue. Reassure him over and over that you will stand by his side until he is ready, and then do just that. Support him until he is ready. I think having him tested for anything yet is ridiculous. Toddlers do weird things that we dont understand all the time. See if you can help him work through it. If it isnt something necessary, stay in for now. If it is, explain that you MUST go to the store to buy groceries and that you'll bring him back asap. If he continues freaking out and you cant see any reason why within a month, then take him to a specialist in child behavior. I have found every time my kids go though a strange phase, going with the flow not only saves my stress level from going through the roof, but bonds us together even stronger when they are able to work through it.

Have you tried sitting with him and planning an outing. Make a list of fun things you could go do, then let him choose where, when, and talk through all the things you will do when you get there. Also make a pre-arranged signal he can use to let you know he wants to go home. Does he have any kids his age he likes being around? Maybe another mom and kid could join you. Also what does he say when you ask him why he doesn't want to leave?
Hang in there

HAve him evaluated by a SIPT certified occupational therapist. Sounds like SI to me. (Sensory Integrstion Dysfunction). His processing of sensory information is disorganized. HAve him checked because it is a hidden handicap.

We haven't had that problem, but our 3 year old is resisting going to Day Care now that he moved to a new class that is not as familiar as his old one.

Is he old enough that you can ask him what's going on that he's so afraid? Can he verbalize what his concerns are? Our in-laws have that problem with their 3 year-old and taking baths. He absolutely throws a fit, and no one can understand why. He had no bad experience. He just doesn't love doing it.

Good luck. I hope you get it resolved soon.

It's hard to say what i would do if i where in your shoes. i work with pre k children so I KNOW.... try to have a 101 with you son ask him why he doesn't want to go out side and say "what can I do to make it better" or you know that mommy would never let anyone or anything hurt you. i would even try to take him out little buy little everyday at a certain time that is kinda calm and not so busy.

I have never dealt with my child not wanting to leave home, but I have dealt with my daughter not wanting me to leave her side. She would get hysterical and cry uncontrollably and end up hyperventilating. I basically worked with her a little at a time. I would leave for a minute, then five minutes, etc. But I always made sure that she was calm and ok with me leaving. I would also make sure that she understood: I was leaving, and we had to find a way to work through it. Then we would find things that made her more comfortable while I was gone, ie: something of mine or something I had given her. I think that if you explain that you have to leave the house and that you can do it a little at a time, and bring something that would make him feel more comfortable. I do highly recommend starting now, because the longer anxiety has to take hold of a child, the worse it gets. I hope this helps.

S.,
I actually have a two and a half year old son who went through the same,same words: I don't wanna go I want to stay home! I couln't give a real easy way out for him since I also have a 4 year old who always wants to go somewhere.
So now he ( the 2 y o.) wants to gosomewhere( usually the park) EVERY day.So they go through phases and just make sure he is not afraid of something while getting in the car or any other ways and give lots of hugs and make it fun and he will be in the next stage before you know it.
Good Luck!
Also take him just otside or for a walk often( if not too bad for traffic on your street).It might help to be outside, say hi to neighbors and make it a special time in the fresh air:blow bubbles, play w balloons...