Anyone else have a LO who only wants to explore?

[emmas]

So I'm begining to find DS hard work to entertain - he is almost 13 months and whenever we go anywhere all he wants to do is explore the room, find an escape route and play with things he shouldn't (computers, TV's, bags etc)

At home he is quite good at independent play and quite often isn't bothered if I am there or not - he doesn't like to play alongside me, but at playgroups etc I'm always the one who is constantly following him around trying to remove him from escaping and trying to engage him in playing.

He is obsessed with how things work, will load and unload the washing machine (If only he could iron LOL), electrical items will keep him amused for hours but take them away and we have complete meltdown - back arching, arms wailing, leg kicking tantrums.

Just wondered if anyone else has a toddler like this and what do you do with them all day?

[15milner]

That's what they do at this age!!

Trouble with a capital 'T'!!!  Andrew's climbing now too!!  Talk about exploring, it's an exciting place to be right now and once they can walk / crawl etc to exciting looking things then he's off!!!

Enjoy it!!

It's tiring, but magical to see them find and enjoy new things

Alex

[skatty]

Yes I have one exactly the same and at 22 months it is no different! She has always been the one in the group to be in in the unreachable cupboards and rifling through handbags! She is also a very independant player and would much rather work out how a toy works and is made up than play with it, it is tiring sometimes but these really are great qualities fotr our LOs to have in the future 

[NicElua]

Just a question. Does this qualify these LOs as spirited? Erm, I'm trying very hard to see the good in this. Would this mean that they are focused or what?? can someone explain?

My ds is also poking his fingers and head into everything! Yes he'd help to wipe the dining table, to pay money at the supermarket checkout..I bet if he's tall enough and can walk well, he'll be vacuuming and ironing..

But lately I've been observing something else with my ds, whom I thought was a Spirited tod. When we go for our music class, he seemed not too keen to participate. But when we go for a playdate or his playgroup on Wed and his gym class, he jumps right into action. I was taken aback by his behaviour at music class. anyone of you experience something like that? Perhaps it's got something to do with the class??

[skatty]

My DD only went to one music class and she started dancing in the middle of the circle and then practised going up and down the stairs, she wasn't at all interested in the class but then again she had never been before so didn't understand what to expect KWIM? That was a few months ago but she is going to be going again soon. I think it is normal for any toddler to be cautious in new situations. I recommend you read "Raising Your spirited Child" it is like a bible for parents of spirited kids 

PS LOL about the vacuuming, I always said DD would change her own nappy if she could 

[NicElua]

skatty,
thanks for the book recommendation. LOL about the nappy changing! Mine would just roll and crawl around naked, completely comfortable in his birthday suit! and he thinks it's funny!

Any of you ladies here find that your LOs are extremely assertive? mine had been pushing us away sometimes when he's at something or trying to get at something and we offer to help...Just wondering if i should just leave him be sometimes..

[emmas]

Oh yes - I spoke to my health visitor about it - she said that independent play is fine and really good for him - just make myself available - so in the same room and when he wants me always be there.  She said interefering or trying to interact with him when he doesn't want it is conterproductive.

Doesn't feel very nice when they push you away though does it?  It also means they are content and secure - and very independent.

[NicElua]

emma,
actually i'm happy sometimes that he doesn't want us around or to help. I'm more worried if the activity looks potentially dangerous or if I felt that he might get into a tantrum soon with all that struggling...

but i keep telling myself to back off so he'll learn...

today he tried to put his arm through the gate to reach at our dvd player and he got stuck. It was kind of hilarious. I didn't really stop him cos I thought it might be a good idea to let him learn not to be poking so much.

[charlottecy]

Aghh im in a similar situation, my LO is approaching a year old and im really finding it hard entertaining her. All she wants to do is walk around (luckily without my support but i still need to follow incase she falls over), i cant get her to sit down with me for more than 30 seconds. if shes with someone else then shes good as gold..but with me i have to constantly find things for her to do / play with. i keep buying various toys but she wont play with anything for more than a minute.. So tiring. She wont play or go with her daddy much either so all the strain is on me..
i need to put her in nursery for a few hours everyday (for some alone time and in the chance to develop her independence further), but shes still taking a morning and afternoon nap and wont nap anywhere other than her silent dark bedroom..
any advice?

[skatty]

I would just babyproof and let her get on with her exploring, most of the time when they fall they just get straight back up again anyway! As for toys the best "toy" I found was filling an old bag up with interesting things and leave it around so LO thinks she is rifling thorugh something they shouldn't, it still works at 22 months 

[NicElua]

I totally agree about the old bag toy. Works for me too!

[lilyn22]

i'm not sure if this belongs on this thread but my almost 1 year old is the same, which makes it really hard when we go out..right now he HATES his stroller, and even when he's on the ergo carier he fusses unless he's really tired and about to go to bed...what do u guys do about this need to wander when you're out?

[skatty]

At that age my DD had a trike with a parent handle that she loved, she would sit in that happily and we'd even take it to the shops, admittedly the novelty did wear off after a month or two but they were happy times 

[NicElua]

hallo lilynn!
when my piglet was 11mths he was exactly like yours. it was really frustrating because he kept wanting to get out onto the ground and crawl!

I assume your ds can't walk yet right? I don't really have the solution cos I was kind of a bad parent and force ds to stay in the stroller. He did give up after a while. He was happy as long as we were moving.

How about you try going to places where it's safe to let him out?

btw, clicked on your profile and saw that you're from Singapore too! yay yay!! another one in BW!

[emmas]

Have to say I was the same - I never let him out as I know I won't get him back in again!!  He wasn't too bad at getting in the stroller at home fortunately.