how to handle children that have to tell you when they breathe!

[WImom]

I have two kids (twin siblings) that constantly tell me what they are doing all day long.

They also need me to say 'good job' for everything like they zippered their jacket, they got there snow pants on, etc etc. (All things they should do anyways at their age - will be 4 in May). Since I try not to use the 'good job' thing I will just say okay thinking that after awhile they would get bored with this and stop. But that hasn't been the case. (I did praise them the first time they did these things since they tend to not try things themselves)

I didn't notice how high maintance these kids are until they were not here one day (Monday) and then yesterday it was like my brain hurt by the end of the day when they were back.

They are constantly looking for that praise I'm thinking or they have to tell their parents when they do everything at home. (Or they just like to talk??) They even tell me everytime they have to get a kleenex or burp, etc. If I don't answer them they will keep saying it until I say something.

THey also are super quick to say 'I can't do it" but if I tell them to wait (I'm helping someone else) or try again they will 90% of the time do it themselves just fine.

How do you lessen this??

[Zoe]

It could be they're seeking praise or they're just seeking attention. Could you spend some time with them where your attention is just on them? Of course while supervising the others. Then maybe they won't seek you out for EVERYTHING.

[SilverSabre25]

"Yep, I see that you did it. Thank you."
"We don't say 'I can't' here. I know you can."
"I'm not going to talk to you about that; you know what to do."

[WImom]

We do one on one group time every morning so I am already do that one on one time.

Silversabre- yeah, I'm using those already. I'll just keep trying. It's been almost a year though.

[cheeseheadmama]

One of the girls I watch was like that at that age. I called it "narrating her life" because she would tell me that she was changing colors when coloring and then go on to explain why she chose the new color and where it ranked in her list of favorite colors. She wanted me to participate in all these little conversations and it got very annoying very fast! What I did was make sure that I sat down with her for about 20 minutes each day and gave her my complete and undivided attention (playing a game, coloring, talking, singing, etc). That seemed to "fill her attention tank" and she began to slack off on the needing my attention every other minute. She was struggling for attention with her sibling at home and I think that led to a lot of it.

Now she is 7 and she eventually seemed to grow out of it. She is still a talker, but doesn't demand an audience as much any more.

Could they be struggling for attention with each other?

[WImom]

you know you are probably right since both parents tell them 'good job' for everything as well so that's probably feeding the attention against each other as well.

[busymommy0420]

I admit I say "Good Job" a lot mainly with the "3" two year olds and sometimes with the 4 and 3 year old. The 3 year old talks all the time, tells on others and wants attention at all times. If someone else is in trouble for example: I tell babygirl to stop dumping out the toys the DCG who is 3 will say, "Mrs. B I am not dumping the toys." GRRRRRR that annoys me to death...I know you are not dumping the toys, I was talking to babygirl!

Lately if she tells me something that is non important I just say thank you for telling me instead of feeding into it. It seems to work!

[Hunni Bee]

"Yep, I see that you did it. Thank you."
"We don't say 'I can't' here. I know you can."
"I'm not going to talk to you about that; you know what to do."

Was this a gift for me?

Thanks A bunch. I never know what to say in those situations, that neither praises them or hurts their feelings. So I usually end of up saying "thank you".

[daycare]

I have one here that has to have my attention what feels like 100% of the time.
He must say my name over a million times in one day. I have just started ignoring it. He needs to learn to play with the kids, not with me. He plays with me during class time.

Sometimes if I don't answer him, he will then do something destructive to get my attention..

I feel for you.... Because even though I can ignore it, it still drives me absolutely crazy.

I also answer just like Saber....It works

[WImom]

I admit I say "Good Job" a lot mainly with the "3" two year olds and sometimes with the 4 and 3 year old. The 3 year old talks all the time, tells on others and wants attention at all times. If someone else is in trouble for example: I tell babygirl to stop dumping out the toys the DCG who is 3 will say, "Mrs. B I am not dumping the toys." GRRRRRR that annoys me to death...I know you are not dumping the toys, I was talking to babygirl!

Lately if she tells me something that is non important I just say thank you for telling me instead of feeding into it. It seems to work!

Yes, they both do this too. I usually say "is your name_____? They will say no. So I will say, I was talking to _____. Please go back to playing.