Toddler issues
Ren Allen
"maybe I just need to figure out how to get dinner made without being
in the kitchen for very long at a time?"
Ideally, you could have him in a kitchen where he's welcome!! I'd get
out of that living arrangement as fast as possible I think. Kids KNOW
when they're being treated as lesser beings and keeping him away from
something he's interested in (the kitchen) is a recipe for disaster.
Kids NEED to be part of your world/activities from a very young age.
You're doing interesting things in there, he wants to help and feel
he's a capable partner. Jalen would not have let me put him in the
sling if I was cooking at that age either. He wanted to DO whatever I
was doing. A small stool is a wonderful took and I'd just make sure to
put things back so the uptight human in the house doesn't notice.
Fast meals would be best at this stage of the game on many levels
though. Having a wee one can make prep time difficult even if they're
welcome. Find him some simple chopping (with a butter knife),
measuring jobs that he can do alongside you.
You could also spend one of his naps preparing some simple meals
(lasagne, casseroles etc..) and freezing them for future use.
As to leaving places, sometimes distraction is your best friend.
Communicate with him as the countdown continues, but also have a few
dollar store toys, interesting snacks,drinks etc... up your sleeve for
the moments when he just needs a distraction so you can leave
peacefully. Getting all the other kids packed up first usually helped
us too...he could see we were truly leaving, not just talking about it.
If he does start getting upset, just stop whatever you're doing and
hug him, distract him, hand him a cool toy, some ice, a drink of
water, whatever it takes to calm him before you proceed with a diaper
change or other activity. Running around naked is a great way to learn
about body functions!!:)
Also, Jalen was a very restless sleeper the first four years of his
life (I know, that sounds like forever when your child is 18mo., but
it passes and you WILL get more sleep one day). One thing that has
helped him a LOT on stressful nights is Melatonin. I think he's just
more sensitive to lighting and it makes him more awake than his body
really wants to be. On occasional nights, I give him 1/2 of a
sublingual pill (1.5mg) to help him relax into sleep (health food
store for around $8).
With all the electrical lighting these days, some people don't make
enough melatonin, it's a natural product that has no side effects.
Won't work for everyone of course, but it's been a wonderful thing for us.
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
in the kitchen for very long at a time?"
Ideally, you could have him in a kitchen where he's welcome!! I'd get
out of that living arrangement as fast as possible I think. Kids KNOW
when they're being treated as lesser beings and keeping him away from
something he's interested in (the kitchen) is a recipe for disaster.
Kids NEED to be part of your world/activities from a very young age.
You're doing interesting things in there, he wants to help and feel
he's a capable partner. Jalen would not have let me put him in the
sling if I was cooking at that age either. He wanted to DO whatever I
was doing. A small stool is a wonderful took and I'd just make sure to
put things back so the uptight human in the house doesn't notice.
Fast meals would be best at this stage of the game on many levels
though. Having a wee one can make prep time difficult even if they're
welcome. Find him some simple chopping (with a butter knife),
measuring jobs that he can do alongside you.
You could also spend one of his naps preparing some simple meals
(lasagne, casseroles etc..) and freezing them for future use.
As to leaving places, sometimes distraction is your best friend.
Communicate with him as the countdown continues, but also have a few
dollar store toys, interesting snacks,drinks etc... up your sleeve for
the moments when he just needs a distraction so you can leave
peacefully. Getting all the other kids packed up first usually helped
us too...he could see we were truly leaving, not just talking about it.
If he does start getting upset, just stop whatever you're doing and
hug him, distract him, hand him a cool toy, some ice, a drink of
water, whatever it takes to calm him before you proceed with a diaper
change or other activity. Running around naked is a great way to learn
about body functions!!:)
Also, Jalen was a very restless sleeper the first four years of his
life (I know, that sounds like forever when your child is 18mo., but
it passes and you WILL get more sleep one day). One thing that has
helped him a LOT on stressful nights is Melatonin. I think he's just
more sensitive to lighting and it makes him more awake than his body
really wants to be. On occasional nights, I give him 1/2 of a
sublingual pill (1.5mg) to help him relax into sleep (health food
store for around $8).
With all the electrical lighting these days, some people don't make
enough melatonin, it's a natural product that has no side effects.
Won't work for everyone of course, but it's been a wonderful thing for us.
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
Ren Allen
~He wanted to DO whatever I
was doing. A small stool is a wonderful took~
TOOL, not "took"...
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
was doing. A small stool is a wonderful took~
TOOL, not "took"...
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
Christy Putnam
Just wanted to shout out and thanks everyone for their input. I love this
list as it has helped me gain and change perspectives. I *know* we need to
change our living arrangement and are working hard to do so. I am in
process of gathering things and making things for a "kitchen box" as well :)
Thanks everyone!
In Gratitude,
Christy Putnam
Unschooling Mom to Seth (almost 12) and Aden (18 mo.)
Loving wife of Chester (ann. 7/4/04)
Visit my blog &/or join my group:
<http://blog.myspace.com/personal_balance>
http://blog.myspace.com/personal_balance
<http://groups.myspace.com/unschoolingourfuture>
http://groups.myspace.com/unschoolingourfuture
"Go confidently in the direction of your
dreams. Live the life you have always
imagined." - Henry David Thoreau
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
list as it has helped me gain and change perspectives. I *know* we need to
change our living arrangement and are working hard to do so. I am in
process of gathering things and making things for a "kitchen box" as well :)
Thanks everyone!
In Gratitude,
Christy Putnam
Unschooling Mom to Seth (almost 12) and Aden (18 mo.)
Loving wife of Chester (ann. 7/4/04)
Visit my blog &/or join my group:
<http://blog.myspace.com/personal_balance>
http://blog.myspace.com/personal_balance
<http://groups.myspace.com/unschoolingourfuture>
http://groups.myspace.com/unschoolingourfuture
"Go confidently in the direction of your
dreams. Live the life you have always
imagined." - Henry David Thoreau
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]