Active toddlers and the trouble they get into.
By JRPittman
@JRPittman (16)
United States
April 27, 2008 7:31am CST
My daughter is two going on thirty. A smart little girl, she's figured out how to unlock the screen door and get outside, open doors, climb out of her crib, hide in the closet and is constantly climbing the bookshelf.
She waits until I'm in the kitchen, bathroom or bedroom and then out the door she goes. To date, she's disappeared down the driveway and halfway down the street at least a dozen times. The neighbors have even started blocking the driveway if they see her outside. Not only does it scare the crud out of me - I've grown six or seven white hairs in the past week - it also looks bad.
I've never been accused of being a bad mother. I love my children, do anything I can for them and try to keep them safe. But this child is almost more than I can handle.
Because of all this, I've come up with an idea and I'd like some feedback. I can't SHARE the idea - it would fit under inventions - but I'm interested in knowing how many parents have the same problems with their children.
Questions:
1. Do you have the same type of problems with your toddler? Worse?
2. If there was something on the market that would let you know when your child was out of a specific area, would you be interested in the product?
I look forward to your feedback!
3 people like this
6 responses
@kezabelle (2974)
•
27 Apr 08
Oh my that must be scary my daughter is two and a handful but she hasnt escaped yet saying that all our doors have handles that are well above toddler height so thats probably the only reason lol.
I suppose something would be nice to know where they are at all times but maybe I dunno its just easier and cheaper to lock the door and gates etc? Also if it was only one specific area would it not be a pain to keep turning it on and off every time you left the house with your child?
Just my thoughts anyway
1 person likes this
@edgyk8inmomma (2157)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Sounds like an interesting invention, without even knowing what it is.
I am out of the "toddler" stage with my kids, but even as they grow into curious preschoolers, and adventerous school age children, something like this would be beneficial. Just a thought, if you could make the boundaries different for different children, I think your product would serve a larger community. Say, for my three year old, I'd like to know if she leaves the back yard. For my 5 year old, I'd like to know if he enters the ally or goes around a corner. For my 7 and 9 year olds, I'd like to know if they are hanging around certain houses, or if they cross certain roads.
@JRPittman (16)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Great feedback, edgy, and very helpful. It's definitely got my brain buzzing. I don't know if it would be helpful for your 7 and 9 year olds, but I don't think 5 years old and below would be a problem. Thanks again!
1 person likes this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
27 Apr 08
My children are all grown now. But back in the day I did have a climber and an adventurer so Yes if there had been a way of alerting me when any one of them was out of a special area. It would have saved me from a lot of anziety while they were small.
@JRPittman (16)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Thanks for the response. It also gives me hope - you had a climber and adventurer and they made it to adulthood. lol
2 people like this
@JRPittman (16)
• United States
28 Apr 08
What my husband and I started doing was letting her do those things that won't hurt her badly. For instance, we taught her "hot - don't touch" by lighting a lighter and letting her touch the flame. As she touched it, we told her "hot - don't touch". No blisters, no pain - now, when she's in the kitchen with me and I'm cooking I can tell her "hot" and she'll stay away from the stove.
The problem is that there's no way to do that with running out into the street. You can't explain or show what could happen. It can definitely get frightening at times.
Good luck with your niece - tell her mother I'm rooting for her!
Thanks for your comments!
@nengs10 (3180)
• Philippines
28 Apr 08
I have no kids yet as of the moment. But when I was a child, I was also very active. I run and play here and there. It's part of a child's world to play and enjoy. Parents should always be there at their side to guide them and provide them the support and discipline that they need.
@JRPittman (16)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Oh, I most definitely agree, nengs, we should be at their side. Sometimes, however, it isn't possible to watch them EVERY minute of the day.
I'd like to add that I also have four boys. I never had these issues with them. My youngest son, for instance, always WANTED to be with me, so he followed me everywhere. The difference is that my daughter is very independent. Even at two, she dresses herself, brushes her teeth and hair, puts her shoes on, goes to the bathroom and wipes herself, and also makes toast and gets her own water out of the fridge.
Someone mentioned earlier that their doorknobs are out of toddler reach - my daughter is as tall as most four-year olds. All of this makes it even more difficult.
Thanks for your feedback and thoughts!
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
28 Apr 08
hi I am now a senior citizen but when I had my little girl and she was about four I just turned my back on her for two minutes and she was gone. i searched the whole house and no lisa rose so I remembered she wanted to see grandma so I dashed up the street hoping to God I was right and turned the corner and there across from my mom's house was mylisa with an elderly woman who was laughing. mylisa had her clothes in her hand but was stark raving naked. oh my word. the neighborlady said to me I was sure her moma was going to be looking for her. seems she was in toomuch of a hurry to put her clothes on. I thanked the lady and took my wandering girl into my mom's house and dressed her . mymom almost had hysterics but I had been frightened out of my mind. she could have been hit by a car or anything could have happened to her. and it would have been all my fault. i sat down and just shook then bawled of course. my mom comforted me and I finnally settled down. whew.
@JRPittman (16)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Thank you for sharing your story! I completely understand the panicky feeling - you look around and your child is gone. My daughter also loves to take her clothes off, and most of the time that she gets outside, all she's wearing is a diaper.
I had something similar happen just recently: The neighbor told me that she asked my daughter if my daughter knew where home was and my daughter brought her here.
I'll never know what the difference is between a child you're constantly chasing and a child that's comfortable staying in one area, but those you have to chase are also those that give you the most gray hairs! lol
