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I just enrolled a 2yo DCG last week. Aside from the screaming meltdowns at drop off (probably because she comes with food every day and I have mom take it away from her), she is a pretty good kiddo while she is here. Very happy and loving...but too loving to the babies. I have an older crew, 2 and over, except for one 11mo DCB. She will not leave him alone! Any chance she gets to get near him, she is trying to pick him up (by his neck), kiss him (by completely laying on him to pin him down, and she is not a little 2yo), yanking on his arms, legs, and head to get him to sit by her. This 11mo has always had free range of the playarea, as the other kids were very good with him. I don't have a rough bunch, so they all played nice together. But now I have to keep the 11mo or 2yo next to me at all times, to avoid her hurting him. The second I turn my back to pick up or give attention to another child, she is all over him. Redirection is not working, time outs are not working, sitting right next to her and telling her to be gentle doesn't work either. I know she isn't doing this to be mean. She loves babies, she is just way too rough. In 5 years of doing daycare, I've never run into an older child that is so rough with babies. Does anyone have advice on how I can get through to her to be gentle? I have to fix this behavior quick as it just isn't fair for the 11mo to not be able to play with the other kids like he used to, and I am worried she will seriously hurt him. I don't want to lose the 2ya, as her mom is PG and taking one of my Summer spots when my kindergarteners leave.
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Are you able to make an area just for her to play in? When she goes near the baby after being told once to leave him alone, move her to her area to play by herself and tell her it is because she is not listening and needs to let the baby alone. Maybe after a while of having to play alone she will get it? -
I think that might be a good strategy, if you can do it. When you do have the opportunity, continue with the "gentle touches". Sit down on the floor with her, and brush her arms gently, saying "gentle touches...now, you show me gentle touches". reinforcement for positive, redirection (her own area) for negative. "You are not being gentle with your friend xx. I want you to play by yourself for a little while so that xx can play, too".Comment
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I have a mean voice so any time I would see her go near the child I would use my mean voice and say "don't touch the baby" even if she is just walking by the child. Sometimes a mean voice and repeating don't touch works too.Comment
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I would do straight out "dont touch the baby ever" method. She gets consequences when she touches the baby. Let the baby do his thing and she learn to move away from him and dont touch. I wouldnt "punish" the baby because he isnt doing anything wrong. Its just like biting....if you cannot shadow her, put her in a safe place while you change diapers and such and then bring her back out. a two year old is not too young to learn to leave the baby alone.
Down the road, i would work on gentle touches but for now, you cant trust her to know the difference.Comment
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Thank you for the suggestions...I have tried most of those...I think it will just take constant reinforcement with this one. Hopfully this doesn't last too much longer...I've just never had a 2 year old that has acted like this to this extent before :confused:Comment
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I am having the same problem but this dcg is only 14 months. My son is the same age but he weighs 5lbs less ad is petite compared to her. I have a 7 month old that she is cobstantly bothering too . He is advanced in his motor skills (already starting to cruise) but obviously doesn't know to get away from her. She likes to try to stick her foot in his/my son's face/space almost like shes trying to kick them, sit on them, lay on them, and yesterday she yanked some strands off my son's head , and after seeing she got hair off him she kept trying to grab for more hair. All the while I am right there telling her no, stopping her. She gets very mad when I stop her and is stong willed.
I was thinking of plunking her in a pack n play ( in the play room) with some toys everytime she tried doing things like that, as a consequence. I was thinking of of getting a play yard, but theses babies love to hang on the big long gate that devides the play room from tbe kitchen. I can see them tearing down the play yard by hanging on it/shaking it until it falls. Are play yards pretty stable ?
She only comes 2days a week, so not sure if its worth it to spend the $ on a play yard.Comment
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