Toddler Running Amok

Daycares organize their days and structure their days that require kids to learn to sit still at such a young age because that's the only way to survive. That doesn't mean it's ideal for kids that age. Not every 12 month old is really ready for just 1 nap a day, but daycares often force it because they need that consistent schedule in order to be able to take care of that many kids. Not every 5 year old is ready to give up their nap, but most kindergartens don't have nap time.

What your son is doing is perfectly age appropriate. He's 2, and it's completely ok that he doesn't want to sit still. Some kids naturally do at that age. He doesn't. That's fine. Don't force him to do it.

One of the benefits of being a SAHM is that you can go with the flow on things like this. If what he was doing wasn't age appropriate, I would encourage you to find more ways to teach him those skills. But I would encourage you, instead, to not worry so much about story time at the library. You can still take him and look at books and play with the toys there. It's a great place to take him. But maybe story time right now is part of his bedtime routine when you're helping him settle down for sleep.

I think you have more than one, correct? So you probably realize some of this is personality but some of it is most definitely age.

One of my boys could sit still and look at picture books at that age. The rest were go go go.

Some daycares are very structured, but there's always one teacher (I always found) leading a child back to the mat ... so while some may sit, a lot won't. The last daycare we used, they had a much better approach - their set up had different stations, and the kids just went wherever they wanted - even a little couch area if they'd had enough - at that age. Really, it was't until 3 and then 4 where they got more into sitting and learning how it would be at school when they went off at 5. Even some kindergarteners have a hard time adjusting to sitting all day.

You could put him in a little preschool group once he's old enough (a few mornings) if you feel you need a break. A lot of moms do that and it gives the tots that interaction with little ones, the introduction to structure (with people who aren't mommy, and sometimes they listen better) and you a break. Just a thought. I know quite a few moms who take advantage of pre-school or nursery school groups in their area. Works well - the get a chance to get out and do something (even errands or just a morning off).

But entirely typical - from what I recall. Also - and I don't like to be stereotypical and this may be totally inaccurate, but sometimes little boys (even tots) in groups, get going. My boys did. That excitement factor kicked in. Or they'd go to a new place (even a library) and see all the new and exciting things and want to explore. Mine would see the toy box and listening to a story or watching a puppet show seemed lame in comparison - they'd wander. So don't feel your son is totally abnormal. I don't think he is. It's just a very tiresome and exhausting stage for mom :)

He's not ready to sit and listen just yet.
Some kids get there earlier than others while others take a bit longer.
And it's really common with some boys.
Some aren't ready by preschool or even into kindergarten.
It's hard but please try hard not to compare him to other kids.

What you do is to provide him with sufficient run around time to tire him out.
That means lots of outside time - in the yard, at the playground - run him ragged!
You have to be out there with him to watch him and running around with him is good for you too.

Sitting time will come - sooner or later.
Someday he'll be a teen and you won't be able to pry him out of bed.
Just take one stage at a time!
Don't attempt to structure him before he's ready for it.

So you've worked in daycare and you know what structure is. That's what you don't have at home. At least you know the difference.

Kids in daycare only have so much that they can do and only so much space to do it in. You have more space at home and more options. Without structure, toddlers do run wild. They would run wild in daycare too if the daycare teachers didn't have them very organized and use the same schedule every day.

Toddlers don't sit still much - that's normal. But they do end up learning to sit still over time. At daycare they have these kinds of structures every day. Your son only has it at the library when you take him. Once in a while encounters like this will not teach him to sit still for more than a minute.

Just to let you know, little boys have "motors" that run constantly. What you have to do is manage that motor with the use of a REAL schedule. He needs large motor movement in a controlled environment. And then you need to calm him with small spaces. If taking him to the store is difficult, wait until he gets older. Go grocery shopping after your husband gets home from work.

As he develops, he will be able to do more, if you have trained him. Be very consistent and be patient.

i dunno. it sounds as if the structure would be lovely for you (it's how daycare centers survive, isn't it?) but he's not even 2 yet. he may need structure in certain behaviors, but running around wild isn't a bad thing.

he's not even 2.

sitting still is a tough thing for little people who have only recently become mobile. their perpetual motion machines are exhausting for adults, but entirely appropriate for them.

little people like him can and do learn to conform to the necessities of daycares and schools and can rein in their natural tendencies, but if you're in the fortunate position of being home with him, why not let him be a busy little guy while he's still so little?

in time he'll be forced to sit quietly at a desk.

i say let him rip.
khairete
S.

You need to practice with him. So he will learn to pay attention and spend time sitting down.

I worked child care too and I had my infant and toddlers where they would sit.

I started out with them in my lap or beside me. They started to get up my hands were on them and helping them to sit back down. Constantly. The goal wasn't to get a story read to them, it was to use the story as a distraction so they'd learn to sit still.

I did this with the toddlers too. I had them in front of me and beside me while I held the book facing us and read to them. I constantly used my hand that wasn't holding the book to keep the child sitting down. I used very few verbal commands because I wanted all the kids focusing on the book.

The kids learned how to listen.

I suggest you find a mommy and me exercise/gym/dance class of some sort so that he can be more active and run amok doing something that is more structured. This will help him too.

Do not let him run amok. If you need to give him a little swat, not hard by any means, enough to get his attention, and tell him it's time to sit down. Do this at home so that he can cry and not bother others.

If you can't learn how to sit him in your lap and keep him seated then please consider not going to story time until you can do this. It's very distracting for the other parents and kids when you can't control your child.