Hi, mamas. My son is 16 months old and, being that age, is discovering his own independence. When he gets into something he's not supposed to, i.e. climbing on the elliptical, pulling all the wipes out of the box, etc. I tell him, firmly, "No!" and remove him from whatever he's getting into. He either laughs or just goes back to doing it immediately. I keep telling him no, but he doesn't seem to get it. He calls the elliptical "No" as though that is its name. What am I doing wrong?
Yeah like Jo said - distract. Also consider blocking some rooms off. Kids don't need to hear "no" a 1000 times a day. If you keep them away from stuff they can't have, then it's easier on everyone.
When you take him away from something he shouldn't be doing give him something he can do, just like Jo W said. You can't really disciplne a toddler, they are learning and they need things to be repeated constantly.
Try telling him "danger" when he climbs up on the elliptical and bring him to another toy that is ok for him to play with.
Children this age don't understand the meaning of "no" so by repeating it they are learning the meaning.
Discipline is education on how the world works. Don't just use "no", be more descriptive - use the language to tell him why. It takes more work, but I think it pays back in dividends because as he gets older he'll understand why and make better choices.
For example-"Don't climb on the eliptical, that's for mommy and daddy's exercise. I know you love to climb - let's climb on -sofa cushions, favorite climby thing, etc." You're then teaching him what not to do and giving him an alternative on what he CAN do to achieve the same thing.
The laughing and continuing is what they do at this age, but he'll learn you're serious.
Check out Love and Logic parenting books - really great stuff :)
You are not doing anything wrong, that is how you discipline a child that age. :) Thing is it has become a game to him so you need to find a new game to play. I don't know, like find something he is allowed to climb on and pull him off laughing and saying something cute. Ya know like come here you little climber. Yea I suck at cute, good thing my kids never required cute. :p
All he wants is for you to pull him off the elliptical so pull him off of something else.
I don't understand why he has access to this part of the house....all my friends have areas that are childproofed where the kids can play freely without fear of getting hurt. The book shelves are screwed to the walls and each shelf is secure so if they climb it can't fall and hurt them, the toys are all age appropriate, the lamps and other items that are on tables are up higher so they can't be reached, they have a lot of floor space to do riding toys, etc...it sounds like you need to baby proof this room and make it a play area that is safe. If he can't have a room like that consider doing it to his room and then putting up a gate.
We had the kids rooms fixed up to be their safe areas and the gate was across the hallway. I could see them playing in the hallway from anyplace in the house except my bathroom. If they wanted to see me while I was cooking dinner they could stand and watch me, if the wanted to see me while I was folding laundry they could see me, if they wanted to play or needed some one on one time I could hear them or see them and then go in their area to play with them. It was safe for them and they learned to entertain themselves.
Just make sure all the rooms off the hallway are closed, especially the bathroom. Little ones will drown in the toilet if the tip over. Their heads are much heavier than their little bodies and their neck muscles are not formed enough yet to life their head out of the hole the toilet bowl can be.
I think that you need to make some boundaries and put gates up on this room that is obviously not a safe room for him.
I love the Love & Logic techniques. Instead of always using "no" for everything, try using what they call the "uh-oh" song. You just sort of sing "uh oh!" kind of excitedly when they are doing something they shouldn't and then remove them or the item. So, for the elliptical, it would be something like, "Uh oh! The elliptical can be dangerous and is only for big people. Let's go read a book instead!" Basically the same approach you are using, but because it's different from the constant "no" most kids hear at that age, it really gets their attention.
My little boys learned to jump off a chair before they could walk. LOL They also seemed a little more hard-headed then my little girls. I would give him something else to climb on. I would always use the words, "Mommy's toy or daddy's toy." Sometimes they get so focused on one certain thing that even when you take them away from it they will go back. If you have a play pen or a gate that you can use to separate him from the distraction that would probably help. Good luck!! Every kid has their own unique personality so a lot of times it is just trial and error until you find what works.
