Within the last week the children have entered a new phase. I think I'll refer to this phase as: My Sweet Babes Have Been Replaced with Wild Indians Who Have Spring Fever, No Longer Listen to Their Parents and Play So Hard They Are Tee Teeing in Their Pants a Few Times A Day (each!)
Anybody have any tips?
15 comments:
We referred to that age as "same as teenagers but without access to money and having no drivers license" once we had teens. Truly, our boys as teenagers definitely reminded me of the toddler/preschool age in SO many ways! (at least they didn't "tee tee"...hee, hee)
My grandson is 3-1/2 and has starting the same thing - my daughter just about decided to keep underwear out in the bathroom for him. It's frustrating I know. So I don't particularly have any advise, just commiseration and the "this too shall pass" viewpoint (true, but not overly comforting...especially when you wash, and wash, and wash again...)
I think at this age they are just so into exploring their world that they literally can't be bothered with going to the toilet until it is too late.
This seasonal change was a challenge for me too. They are so BUSY with their playing that they forget. Probably a few days with gentle reminders to come in for a potty break would do the trick to get them back on schedule.
I say just buy more underwear! My oldest (she's six) still finds herself playing too hard to come in with enough time this time of year. I'm told by my sweet mother-in-law that a certain little boy (my husband) also had this problem.
Flicka (now 4) hit this stage each May since she was 2! LOL It kicked back in this week...so we went back to using planned potty breaks about every hour just like when she potty trained (which will hopefully rub off on Pojke since I was thinking about tackling PT with him this summer!)
I agree with the teenage analogy -keep them fed and well rested and you just might survive.
Also, the planned potty breaks are a great idea. Maybe you could set a kitchen timer and when they hear the "ding" it's time to tee tee. You could even carry a stop watch and set it - for when you are away from the house. Because I KNOW you have plenty of time to search for a stop watch and set it every hour....
I agree with the consensus who suggested scheduled potty times again for awhile. Thankfully it's only tee tee. Otherwise, I'd buy some inexpensive underwear you don't mind making disposable. There is nothing worse than having to come home and clean out soiled underwear. It's better to just trash them.
My son is still in this mode occasionally when too busy outside playing to come in and do something as mundane as potty.
Praying for you this morning that unexpected accidents will not yield mommy grumpies.
Though mine are a little younger than yours - I'm just glad to hear that I'm not alone! Spring fever brought with it a new personality over here as well!
I hate to be the one to say this because I know it will probably not be what you want to hear, and you've probably heard it was wrong.... but with one child in particular we had to discipline her for doing this because she was very much defying us by not going potty when she knew she needed to. And even though I wouldn't rush to do this, it might be what it takes.
And for her (my daughter) it only took two times of discipline and then she rarely had a mistake again. Which we didn't discipline for.
Praying you find the answer for what's best for your family.
The girls are in the same phase and it's making me nutty. I'm trying not to raise my voice at them but they are completing ignoring everything I say!!!!
I have no advice... I'm in the same boat (with only one though!!) I'll just stick around the listen to what all the people who know what they're talking about have to say :)
One I know that DOESN'T work, is asking a toddler "WHY did you do that?!?"
I'm SO right there with you (except just the one 3-going-on-4-year old.)
I can understand why so many preschoolers end up on Ritalin. (Not that I'm tempted or anything, to clarify) It's just normal, but honestly, so hard to keep up with all their crazy energy!!
I'm SO right there with you (except just the one 3-going-on-4-year old.)
I can understand why so many preschoolers end up on Ritalin. (Not that I'm tempted or anything, to clarify) It's just normal, but honestly, so hard to keep up with all their crazy energy!!
Totally identify! My 6,5,and 2 year old are ALL doing the exact same and it wears me out. Good thing they have a Daddy that comes home ready to play...he takes round 2! (The round after dinner but before bed.)
We also do the scheduled potty breaks about every hour and they really seem to work. We also take the little potty to the park with us. We sit it in the back of the car for a quick trip (especially with three kids...it's hard to get them all to the bathroom)
I'll be praying for you...pray for me! :O)
I was upstairs this morning, grabbing the last bit of my belongings before heading out the door to work when I heard "mommy, I needed to go potty but..." Glad to hear I'm not alone! Here's to this passing soon...
My advice would be EXTRA REST FOR ALL OF YOU. That usually works for us.
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