Kids Acting like Wild Animals!!!

Updated on November 10, 2011
B.C. asks from Gilbert, AZ
8 answers

My kids are 6&7. One boy, one girl. They have always goofed around, but it is getting to be too much! The times when I find it most inappropriate are in the mornings when we are getting ready for school and night time when getting ready for bed. Mornings have become miserable for me because I have to continue to tell them to focus and do what they need to for school. I am also getting ready for work at the same time. I have made charts for both of them so they can check each thing off in the morning which is helpful, but the rest of the time is miserable. Example, eating breakfast. My daughter starts spinning her plate in circles while eating, they laugh and now they are both doing it and it takes on a whole new level of being obnoxious and rude. One starts to act a little nutty therefore the other jumps in and I have two misbehaved,-mismanaged kids. We were almost late for the bus this morning because they do too much goofing around. They're punishment is no video games or cartoons the rest of the week, which is one hour after school every night. It makes it harder because I am trying to get out the door at the same time, so I know I am a bit more sensitive in the morning. Any advice ladies? Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the advice ladies. I like the positive reward box, I'll give it a try! I am married, but my husband it out the door every morning at 6:15, so they do not even see him in the mornings. As far as me getting up earlier, not an option. I run in the mornings and am just walking in the door from my run as my husband walks out the door and my kids are usually up as soon as they hear him leave. I have all the parts and pieces ready for their lunches and they just have to fill up their lunch box every morning. They pack their own backpacks, make their beds, etc. They are pretty much responsible for everything except making their own breakfast.

More Answers

L.A.

answers from Austin on

I always got myself ready before our daughter got up when she was young.

I promise it will get better as they get older.
Remember to discuss expectations even at dinner about the behavior you expect the next morning.

"Listen guys, I am really needing your help in the morning. I am trying to get ready for work, because if I am late, I get in trouble at work. If I get in trouble I could get fired. That would mean we would not have money for the fun things we like to do and no gifts for birthdays. "

"So in the morning. YOU need to get ready and rat your breakfast without me having to chase after the 2 of you."

"Can you 2 help me with this? "

"How can you get ready faster in the morning, or do you want me to wake you up earlier?"

Let them problem solve and make the choices.. Then hold them to it..

1 mom found this helpful

C.P.

answers from Columbia on

This is normal. They're just being kids...finding fun in everything they do, living in the moment.

I found a couple of ways to help with this: Have everything ready to be put on/go before they go to bed. In the morning, always do it in the same order. Get them watches and start making sure that they have a concept of time. And finally, wake them up 30 minutes BEFORE you usually do so that they have the time, once they're dressed and ready, to get some energy out.

I'm lucky enough to live within walking distance of the boys' school...so they walk. It helps them so much to get energy out. If you have the ability to get them running around before you have to put them on the bus, it will help.

1 mom found this helpful

E.M.

answers from St. Joseph on

you didnt talk of how you discipline their behavior. if they are acting like that with the food and plates, take away their breakfast, throw it in the trash. tell them that anytime they act like that they wont eat breakfast that day. i doubt they will do it more than twice before they realize if they dont want to be hungry all morning they will eat. be consistent, use real discipline.

A.J.

answers from Williamsport on

Back to Basis Discipline by Janet Campbell Matson. You can still keep things fun for them, but you need them to cooperate too. Check it on Amazon-good luck!

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C.C.

answers from Flagstaff on

I second a reward for being ready early. Then heap on lots of praise and thank you's when they are "caught being good." If they choose not to get ready, don't bother harping on them about it, but let it go. They will experience the natural consequences of having to go when it's time whether they are ready or not!

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

Do you have music or TV playing in the morning? If you do, turn off the TV. If you play music, only play quiet classical music that is very calm. Have everything ready to go the night before or in the car already so that you don't have to do much other than get yourself ready (have your own clothes picked out.)

I would stop putting their food on plates. Tell them since they are misbehaving at the table, they lose their plates and can just eat off of the table. And I will tell you straight out, if they start throwing food, I'd do exactly as 3boysunder3 said, and throw their food away. One morning of going hungry will fix that. But take the plate away first. I would no more allow spinning of plates on my table than I would standing on the table!

I would tell the kids that whoever starts acting up will have to get up first the next morning and get all their morning work done. The first time he or she has to get up a half hour earlier and put their lunch, etc together, before their sibling gets up, will think twice before being rude and obnoxious. I'm all for a positive reward box, but really, sometimes the acting up is more fun than the reward. You shouldn't ratchet up the reward, because they learn to manipulate the reward with worse behavior.

Good luck,
Dawn

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D.M.

answers from Denver on

Can use use some natural consequences? If they aren't ready, they will miss the bus and have to walk??? That way it's not always you pushing them, rather them living with the consequences they created? OR can you try rewarding them for doing well in the mornings and motivate the right behaviors?

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M.H.

answers from Las Vegas on

I totally FEEL your pain!!! I have 3 boys, ages 7, 4, and 3 and they are all wild animals together every single day of my life. I am surprised that your 6 and 7 y/o boy and girl are behaving this way. A boy and a girl are better than 3 boys (behavior wise).

What went through my mind while reading your post is no mention of a husband. Are you married? If so, your husband needs to step in and help out in the mornings! He's not the only one who works - you work, too, so he needs to help you with the morning chaos! Please don't let him put this all on you. You take a kid and your husband takes a kid and you are each responsible for getting that kid ready for school. Take turns w/ your husband giving your kids breakfast. With both of you working, this needs to be a shared effort.

If you are a single mom, this is tough! I know how hard it is, but can you wake up earlier in the morning? At least you can get yourself all ready before the kids wake up, so then you just need to focus on the kids. Alsom, what about a prize box? I understand punishment w/ no TV (that's good, I do it too), but positive reinforcement is good too. You can tell your kids that if they behave in the morning (and evening), they will get to pick something out of the prize box. Best of luck, and my life is also miserable with my wild animal kids!

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