dirtyDogStink

Dealing with an energetic toddler?

Tuesday, February 13 2007

Then get them involved! Whatever you're doing, chances are pretty good that they want to be doing it with you.

Since my daughter was old enough to walk she has been getting into everything and following us around...like we're her parents or something. Not just us either, her Aunty Kim gets this at her house too along with her Meemaw and Papa when they baby sit. The girl has enough energy to put gas prices back under $1/gallon. Hell, she makes the Energizer Bunny look lazy. In fact, I think she could easily out-distance Shaun Alexander...although she might have trouble getting through the linemen. ;-)

Routing this energy hasn't always been easy. Sure, I'm guilty of using The Backyardigans, Toy Story or Dora the Explorer to get some peace and quiet or time to just do the dishes. Like most parents, I really don't want to over expose my child to the TV. I've found that sometimes the only way to get things done around the house is to let my daughter get involved with whatever I'm doing. The kicker...she LOVES it! Seriously, when I say "do you want to help me get the garbage?" she screams "GARBAGE!" and runs off to grab the closest one. I certainly don't remember having that reaction as a kid. Go figure. [shrug]

The key for me as the parent though, is to get into my 'patience mode.' It's almost guaranteed that anything I involve her in will take twice as long. Initially I will have to talk her through it and teach her what to do. In the long run though, it pays off. She has been helping me feed the dogs every night since she was about 1-1/2 years old. Now, she knows the routine and it doesn't take much extra time. Yeah, she's easily distracted and I have to keep her on task sometimes, but oh well...she's only 3. :-D

My advice to all you other parents out there with energetic toddlers is twofold...be patient and get them involved. Route that energy as best you can and encourage them. My daughter loves to do the dishes, help pick up [well, sometimes], vacuum the floors, take out the trash, feed the animals, carry stuff around and all sorts of typical household tasks. In fact, she entertained herself for over an hour the other night with a half dozen non-breakable dishes in the kitchen sink. She would fill the sink up with water and soap, wash the dishes I had given her, rinse them off, drain the water, over and over. All the time loudly proclaiming with a big smile on her face, "I'm washing dishes!" That smile is something that melts every parent's heart.

~tod