My son Jack, well he just turned 2 and here's his picture. But dont let it fool you! He is super wild, he has so much energy, everything you tell him to do is a giant "No!", he runs around naked when you try and change him, when you go to clip his nails he screams and flails about, neighbors probably think Im torturing him or something lol, bath time is more like nightmare time, eating food is more like throwing it on the floor and demanding to be let loose, and the child just can not, for a moment, sit still, not even to read his old favorite books. I dont get too frustrated, being that I have 7 siblings and have seen this behaviour in 3 of them growing up. My only ideas so far are to cut some juice and other sugary food and drinks out of his diet, and perhaps ask the babysitter to skip nap time for him? I really dont know what else to do and I dont want to do anything to drastic and end up making him any wilder. It's not really me who is so bothered, though I am concerned (a little bit) but he is driving his mother completley insane and I just want to try and calm him down. I realize all kids have much energy to burn, but it is getting rediculous when from 5:00pm to 10:00pm at night, almost every night, he is running wild all over my apartment, and not just playing, I mean breaking things and laughing about it, pulling trash out of my trashcan, trying to get into the toilet, etc. Just all kinds of general nonsense haha. Any advice would be so greatly appreciated.
Well, my youngest nephew is around the same age as your little Jack and acts the same exact way. I can also remember my kids being that way too...seems to go with the age and stage I believe! *laughs* Hang in there daddy! It will get better!
Hold on for your life. About mealtimes: wait until he wants to eat, cut down on environmental stimulation, music, tv extra lights. Childproof the house like crazy! The evening meal should have only whole grains no refined carbs at all, this breaks down into sugar right away and causes that sugar high. Reactive foods like potatoes and tomatoes can cause stimulant sensitivity. Sometimes a lack in magnesium can could hyperactive (synapse over firing) some folks use a liquid magnesium they even make one for babies called baby calm or cam baby (I forget, but the health food store carrie sit or you can order it there). But forget all that: you should be actively engaging him in a ritual with say folding laundry, putting away things, asking him to make choices, take him for a romp outside (run him like a pent up puppy that he is acting like) and do it consistently everyday. It's like the wired and tired, light bulb is burning brighter before it burns out. I have a son that is like that so we take him out and run him ragged. Toss him around on the bed, tickle tickle tickle. Take a bath... You just have to engage with him (not saying that you aren't) because thats when he'll look for something to get rid of the boredom, if left to his own wondering into natural fascinations with water (toilet) and thing that are forbidden, he'll go there if not challenged with inter-activeness and engagement. Activities!!!!! We do singing and playing of instruments too. They are like humming birds... and enjoy! (I know you are already!)
I hear ya Flower. And thank you! Maybe I am lacking in engaging him in activity a bit, Im not going to deny it. I give him a bath, try and feed him healthy but I admit I dont know much about child nutrition other than the basics, I play guitar with him (but he broke all my strings lol so Im waiting on a trip to the store), and try and read his favorite books, but that's about it. Maybe I will give this folding laundry idea a try! That sounds like a good one
Maybe its just terrible twos. Hes such a free spirit, very independent! Riley is kind of going through the same stuff. He sounds just like her. I really agree with everything succulent said... Riley plays the drums, it makes her nuts but she stays out of trouble. Can you make your own juice??? veggie juices are easy if you have a juicer, I make her smoothies, I just cover the floor under where she likes to sit with a tarp and clean it up after her meals. I like to make everything because I know exactly whats in it. You can sneak veggie puree into almost anything and he'd never know. Natural sugars are so much easier on my kids. Maybe its as simple as what he consumes??
he is two... they are almost all monsters at that age,, the world s opening up to them in so many news ways its in a sense overwhelming to them.. things they couldnt do a month or few ago they are able to , things they wanna do for selves and cant,,, i would be frustrated n wild too I was a single mom and worked more than full time and night shift with mine... I found the more i let them interract with what i did when i was home and awake and they were as well , the calmer they seemed to be,,,,.. I showed my younguns how to "dust" ,,, an old wash cloth slightly damp works wonders,, when i was preparing food to cook i would toss them up on the counter where i was and let them "help". When i washed dishes i dragged them over a chair and let them "rinse" them. When i did laundry i had them "fold". I made "music" (albeit it was pretty bad ),,, with them,,, They had a cupboard that was there cupboard to hoard there instruments (spoons bowls pans,,, and the occasional "real" kiddie drums.. When they were just too energetic for my tired n overworked ass, I had a lil video of something stupid that they could interact n exercise with or follow along dancing . do it along with them a few times and they catch on super quick. I always tried to have after dinner time fairly quiet( we ate late) and without loads of sugars or caffeine etc...When we were able to we would go for a little stroll just for some fresh air or a bit of outdoor time if it was warm enough to play outside .After we would come in and have bath time and then play a silly lil kiddie type game and when bed time came i would have them go to room to play quietly for a few minutes before settling in for the night ...sure he is young but they really i think just act like lil animals because they have no real outlet but when we interact along with them and show them things it requires they start using there lil brains in a new way and it opens up so many avenues for them they didnt have before hand ... kids are busy, they like busy n often times i think boredom plays a huge roll in the "hyper" and wild.
My son is a wild guy too. I have noticed that he is worse when he doesn't get enough sleep, so I wouldn't cut out a nap. Kids get more hyper and out of control without rest. My son never stops moving, but now will sit quietly with me for books. He is almost 5...hang in there, it does get better!
He'll become"human"at about 3/1/2-4.Mine did.Much easier when they have a better command of language.The diet tips are good-sugar's a sure fire way to keep 'em wild.
