frustrated by children's behaviour!
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 10:06 pm
There are two children in my room (both aged 2) who often just don't listen and do the wrong thing. Usually 'small' things, such as getting up at meal times, making noise at rest time, running around the room, etc. But both of these children will do these things repeatedly no matter what you say or do, or how you say or do it.
For example, one child only has a sleep maybe 50% of days he attends. When he doesn't sleep, he jumps on his bed, talks, makes silly noises, distracts children from falling asleep and sometimes wakes them up too. I've tried giving him quiet activities to do on his bed so he can rest quietly but be entertained, and it doesn't change a thing - he just uses what I give him to continue the behaviour (e.g. smacking books on the floor and throwing them everywhere, banging puzzle pieces together, etc). When you ask him to stop, he smiles and continues.
With both children I've tried being firm and being nice, explaining calmly what they're doing wrong and what they need to do instead, tried to redirect them to different things, tried moving them away from their friends, tried using positive reinforcement, tried setting out and acting on consequences (e.g. "If you keep throwing that toy, instead of playing with it on the mat, I'm going to put it away.") And NOTHING bothers them! They just smile and continue to do what they want...very rarely has a negative consequence upset them (like it would most children) and rewards and positive reinforcements have been futile so far. I don't know what to do! They are frustrating us so much and nothing is working
For example, one child only has a sleep maybe 50% of days he attends. When he doesn't sleep, he jumps on his bed, talks, makes silly noises, distracts children from falling asleep and sometimes wakes them up too. I've tried giving him quiet activities to do on his bed so he can rest quietly but be entertained, and it doesn't change a thing - he just uses what I give him to continue the behaviour (e.g. smacking books on the floor and throwing them everywhere, banging puzzle pieces together, etc). When you ask him to stop, he smiles and continues.
With both children I've tried being firm and being nice, explaining calmly what they're doing wrong and what they need to do instead, tried to redirect them to different things, tried moving them away from their friends, tried using positive reinforcement, tried setting out and acting on consequences (e.g. "If you keep throwing that toy, instead of playing with it on the mat, I'm going to put it away.") And NOTHING bothers them! They just smile and continue to do what they want...very rarely has a negative consequence upset them (like it would most children) and rewards and positive reinforcements have been futile so far. I don't know what to do! They are frustrating us so much and nothing is working
You can always say "walking feet inside" but how many times do you want to say that! Also another ideas is to provide plenty of opportunities for toddlers to have outdoor play. They're at that stage when they want to run and play and explore. So spending time outdoors is a must! You could even set up your programmed activities outside so they have a range of options. 
,