We have a 5 1/2 year old boy who often laughs when his little brother (14 months) misbehaves. For instance, when his brother throws his food on the floor or does some other behavior we want to discourage, his brother laughs uncontrollably. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but when the baby is putting dirt in his mouth, rather than letting us know the baby is doing that he laughs! It also encourages the baby to continue these behaviors! Any ideas on how to stop this? I know sometimes it IS funny, but other times it is maddening...
Thanks everyone for your insights and ideas. We've got our older son helping to tell the baby not to throw his food one the floor. When the baby does something we don't want him to do but it is funny, the older boy goes into another room. It is somewhat helpful, but I understand what some of you said as far as boys being boys! - And we usually give the baby only a little bitof food at a time, but are giving him even less if he's in a throwing mood, but even he is getting better.
Have you been disciplining the 5 1/2 year old for his behavior? That is the only thing I can think of. Even though laughing in and of itself isn't bad, he is disobeying you by laughing at inappropriate times and should therefore be punished to deter him from doing this behavior.
Good Luck with this!
You may need to sit him down and have a talk with him and explain to him that even though he might think it is funny that laughing encourages bad behavior. You might have to tell him that you also might think something is funny, but that you have to look the other way to keep a straight face. Maybe you could tell him that you might have to share these things privately about the funny thing the baby has done but not in front of the baby.
I had to talk to my husband about this when we had our baby because he would laugh... we learned to turn away and give each other a quiet smile but not to let her know.
T.- Welcome to the world of boys!!! I have 3 boys- My older two ( 6 and 5) laugh everytime my 19 mos old does ANYTHING!! It's inbred- they can't help it...remember growing up, how (excuse my bluntness) stupid boys were? they do the dumbest things and think it's so funny...well nothing has changed- boys laugh about dumb things- and it's usually the things you don't want to encourage....I dont' have agood answer for you- but can't wait to read your responses....good luck with the boys!
Nikki
Well, T. I think Nola hit the nail on the head. Look I know some folks don't watch or care to watch the super nanny show but I have watched and to be honest with you she's got some great ideas and they aren't any different then a counselor would give you. All I can say is you are dealing with a child and don't say they should be little adults because their little under developed minds can't and they aren't little adults. I have 3 boys when trying to train the youngest not to toss food on the floor and when it happens the other child laughs I say " not fun time" then I limit the food I give the youngest if I have to sit and only give one piece at a time well then (welcome to motherhood). I never gave my kids more then a few pieces of food at a time because I didn't want to overwhelm and I didn't want to pick it up off the floor. I think it's up to a mom or dad, babysitter what have you to sit and supervise at the table lunch, etc. If it gets to out of had I fed my kids at different times like 30 mins apart. There's no real answer or fix it's just how you want to deal with it however taking food totally away and not letting them eat is a no no in my book that's punishment but the wrong kind. I also don't think hitting a child is the best idea at the table either eating time should not be somewhere that has a linger of fear hanging over it. This will pass I have an 8,6 and 4 yr old they are past it, it doesn't happen so it does stop. My husband would put the youngest on his lap when it would happen if they wouldn't stop and piece feed him and tell him "food goes in tummy not on floor not funny".
Sorry, hope that helps take what you want from it.
Do you know why your oldest son does this?? If you don't then I'd find that out first so you can correct him in thinking it is funny. After you've established with him that it is not funny and that you need his help to keep his little brother safe, you need to let him know that there will be a punishment for him if he continues to do it. Put him in Time out for 6 mins when he laughs after his little brother eats dirt. I've got an almost 8yr old daughter and a 2yr son and my daughter used to think it was funny to 'accidently' trip her brother when they were playing together till she kept getting put in time out for it and then she had time to think about why that wasn't a nice thing to do!
Teach him respect to others now before he becomes totally lost in the laughter at other expense.
Good luck!
S.
First I think you are giving a lot more importance that you should Secondly talk to your pediatrician regarding this and 3) I will sit down and have a talk with your oldest son Maybe he is behaving like this cause he knows it bothers you so acts this way Maybe if he realize that it does not bother you is behavior will change
Wow... I can imagine how this could be a problem. I have a 5 1/2 year old boy and I know that he'd think all of those things you mentioned were incredibly funny. He's my youngest, so I've not been where you are, but he is old enough to sit down and explain that his laughing is helping to encourage behaviors that are not good, and could be downright dangerous. Maybe you could enlist his help to keep the baby safe and teach him how to act appropriately since he is such a great big brother. Like someone else said, tell him he can laugh about it with you in private. All much easier said than done, I'm sure. Good luck.
