18 Mo Receptive Language..Opinions Please

[Heidi]

So, one of my 18mo dc twins has developed a habit of crying about EVERYTHING.

Go play with toys...(vs. climbing on brother)....waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!

Wrestling is not a good choice (again)....waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!

Sit down on the bench (vs. running off when it's time to put on shoes) Wahhhhhhhhhhh!


Chairs are for sitting on...wahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Everyone else got their plate first at lunch.....waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!

I have witnessed how parents handle this....and I KNOW it is reinforcing it ...
"oh, poor baby, it's ok....there there now" . (no really!)


So, today at lunch, I was handing out plates, and he just happened to be last. WAAAAAHHHHHH... I said "K-I know you are hungry. I am getting you a fork (I had grabbed a big one accidently"...waaaaaahhhh harder.

I then said "K-I will give you your plate when you STOP whining". waaaahhhh....
Finally, he stopped to take a breath (about 30 seconds in time). I caught him quick. "OH, you stopped whining. Here is your lunch"

Do you think he can understand that?

BTW...older kids are big fit throwers...trying to curb that with these two....

[cheerfuldom]

That is a very hard habit to break. I would completely ignore/remove them from the situation until they get it. We do the cry corner here and I don't feel that 18 month olds are too young to learn. I have some younger ones here that are huge whiners at home and they figured out the cry corner real fast, problem solved.

[laundrymom]

I feel he is old enough. Mine sit on floor cross cross applesauce. Hannda in lap and quietly take turns washing and being seated.

[Blackcat31]

That is a very hard habit to break. I would completely ignore/remove them from the situation until they get it. We do the cry corner here and I don't feel that 18 month olds are too young to learn. I have some younger ones here that are huge whiners at home and they figured out the cry corner real fast, problem solved.

I agree with this.

I have one who is in the process of learning not to whine/cry about everything.

She is on week two and pretty much has it fugured out since she started to cry at snack time this morning and I immediately said "L, if you do not stop, you need to go sit in the crying corner until you are done." She stopped before I even started to help her down from the table to send her on her way.....she is 14 mos old so I say without a doubt that age is perfectly capable of understanding.

[Heidi]

Yeah, I just need to hear that a few more times, ladies, from you experts! It's been a while since my kids were that little, and I was out of dc for almost 10 years until February.

I feel alot like I am being played by these two...they run in opposite directions, they throw cups and plates on the floor, and then there is the whole crying pathetically thing.

Thier parents treat them more like infants than toddlers, mom has even said so. My philosophy tends to be higher expectations and independence. They have been here for over 8 months now, and sometimes I feel like such a frickin meanie!

[Blackcat31]

Yeah, I just need to hear that a few more times, ladies, from you experts! It's been a while since my kids were that little, and I was out of dc for almost 10 years until February.

I feel alot like I am being played by these two...they run in opposite directions, they throw cups and plates on the floor, and then there is the whole crying pathetically thing.

Thier parents treat them more like infants than toddlers, mom has even said so. My philosophy tends to be higher expectations and independence. They have been here for over 8 months now, and sometimes I feel like such a frickin meanie!

You probably are because I KNOW I am.

But in all honestly that is the only way I ever have any sense of order and routine so that the kids all listen. If you waiver for even a minute, they pick up on that (hence the treatment from their parents). In the end, I figure I can't be too much of a meanie because ALL my kiddos cry when leaving (not coming in) and every one of them hugs me on a daily basis so if "mean" works, I am running with it.....

Besides higher expectations and independence just makes great kids and judging by the ones the parents have, I'll take the ones who had a meanie with high expectations of independence any day!

[Heidi]

You probably are because I KNOW I am.

But in all honestly that is the only way I ever have any sense of order and routine so that the kids all listen. If you waiver for even a minute, they pick up on that (hence the treatment from their parents). In the end, I figure I can't be too much of a meanie because ALL my kiddos cry when leaving (not coming in) and every one of them hugs me on a daily basis so if "mean" works, I am running with it.....

Besides higher expectations and independence just makes great kids and judging by the ones the parents have, I'll take the ones who had a meanie with high expectations of independence any day!

Thanks Blackcat!