Terrible 3s

[blandino]

I know they say that "if they don't do it at 2, then they do it at 3", but this is really testing us. One of my best DCBs, turned 3 in August, has become very very very difficult lately. He is loud and wild and physical. He doesn't outright hurt anyone, but he is big and runs a lot (has to sit every time I see him run - but that doesn't seem to be deterring it), and has a very short attention span.

Today he put a paper towel in the fish tank (the fish tank is in the bathroom). Also left the water running on full-blast, and shut the door. My best guess is that he did the paper towel in the fish bowl trick, panicked and left without turning the water off, and then shut the door to cover his tracks. This poor fish was wrapped in the paper towel (darn fish has lived 18 months, and could have died from injury by paper towel :. And he ripped up a book at nap.


Now, I wil say that his energy level and physicality are exacerbated by the fact that right now I have 2 2yo boys and 3 3yo boys. I wouldn't have planned it that way, but calls for over 2s are extremely rare for us, and this is just how things settled.

I am cutting down the number of kids playing together at once, I think Blackcat mentioned limiting to small sized groups for free play ? So I will send 2/3 of the kids to the table to play with an activity while the others free play. And it seems to be working, but it feels like I need to be constantly monitoring/controlling them. Things used to peak from 4:30 - 5:30 pm, so now we all sit at the table and do activities during pick-ups, and that has kept the chaos to a minimum. I think I just need to put on my "it's getting real" face for a little bit and get them all back in line. For all of them, but especially the DCB I previously mentioned.

Does anyone have any suggestions ? For the one DCB or for me to keep my sanity until 3 of them go to Pre-K in the fall ?

My last group that left for school last August, was 3 girls and 1 boy who loved learning and were engaged in all we did, and listened fantastically. I would refer to them as "the dream team". So for me, this is a HUGE change, and I am feeling burnt out.

[childcaremom]

The thing I have found with 3yos, esp. boys, is that they have a TON of energy. Like bottle it up and sell it, tons of energy.

I would recommend outdoor time. As much physical activity as possible. With your group of (almost) 5 boys at that age it would almost be a necessity.

[daycarediva]

I have the same squad. I have 4 3 yo boys, 1 2yo girl, 1 3yo girl and 1 4yo girl. STRESSFUL! (boys daily, two of the girls alternate days)

For my physical guys (3/4 of the boys) I give them alternatives to running.
"I see running feet." this usually stops them dead in their tracks.

Then I say "You may crawl, or hop, or BIIIIG giant step, or baby step, or crabwalk, but you may NOT run."

I also redirect it to "You may run OUTSIDE." Even the girls now repeat my phrases.



I also give them something physical to do. I have three boys, so I know nothing stops the need for letting out that energy. We have hung punch balloons from the ceilings to bop, we have set up ball toss/target games, played impulse control games (eg Mother may I, simon says, musical chairs) and LOTS AND LOTS of outside time where I attempt to burn it off. "I want everyone to bring me 6 pinecones. READY, SET, GO!" (we have 4 large pinetrees on our property)

I feel ya, and I hope there is something you can use!

Time outs just aren't an effective deterrent. I really don't think it's enough of a natural consequence for my group to 'get it'.

[blandino]

I have the same squad. I have 4 3 yo boys, 1 2yo girl, 1 3yo girl and 1 4yo girl. STRESSFUL! (boys daily, two of the girls alternate days)

For my physical guys (3/4 of the boys) I give them alternatives to running.
"I see running feet." this usually stops them dead in their tracks.

Then I say "You may crawl, or hop, or BIIIIG giant step, or baby step, or crabwalk, but you may NOT run."

I also redirect it to "You may run OUTSIDE." Even the girls now repeat my phrases.



I also give them something physical to do. I have three boys, so I know nothing stops the need for letting out that energy. We have hung punch balloons from the ceilings to bop, we have set up ball toss/target games, played impulse control games (eg Mother may I, simon says, musical chairs) and LOTS AND LOTS of outside time where I attempt to burn it off. "I want everyone to bring me 6 pinecones. READY, SET, GO!" (we have 4 large pinetrees on our property)

I feel ya, and I hope there is something you can use!

Time outs just aren't an effective deterrent. I really don't think it's enough of a natural consequence for my group to 'get it'.

Love all your ideas ! Right now, I tell them "you may walk or tip-toe" because I couldn't think of any more options - so I will definitely be adding those.

I definitely agree about time-out. I only resort to that when we are out of options, which doesn't happen too frequently - I think it has even months since we have had a time out. I usually just send them to one of the tables for "table time" and explain that they need to play by themselves for a little until they can remember how to play nicely with everyone else". They can bring toys, etc - but they are just separated. Right now, my main offender has to sit in the room a lot, just because any way I have to remind him to stop running hasn't worked, so I just have him pick a spot in the room and sit there to play.

I know you do a lot of outdoor time, and I think I am going to start adding more, at least for the foreseeable future. I am not an outdoorsy person, so it doesn't come naturally to me - but I think for all of our sanity - it needs to happen. I think I am going to try to do circle time, story time, and maybe music or art outside when the weather permits. Hopefully then they will get all the energy out, AND it won't feel so noticeable when they are high energy because we will be outside.

[My3cents]

Love all your ideas ! Right now, I tell them "you may walk or tip-toe" because I couldn't think of any more options - so I will definitely be adding those.

I definitely agree about time-out. I only resort to that when we are out of options, which doesn't happen too frequently - I think it has even months since we have had a time out. I usually just send them to one of the tables for "table time" and explain that they need to play by themselves for a little until they can remember how to play nicely with everyone else". They can bring toys, etc - but they are just separated. Right now, my main offender has to sit in the room a lot, just because any way I have to remind him to stop running hasn't worked, so I just have him pick a spot in the room and sit there to play.

I know you do a lot of outdoor time, and I think I am going to start adding more, at least for the foreseeable future. I am not an outdoorsy person, so it doesn't come naturally to me - but I think for all of our sanity - it needs to happen. I think I am going to try to do circle time, story time, and maybe music or art outside when the weather permits. Hopefully then they will get all the energy out, AND it won't feel so noticeable when they are high energy because we will be outside.

OUTSIDE TIME- It doesn't come natural to me either but it is a sanity saver. Esp for boys. I have all boys right now and they just have a different need then girls do. They are more physical and have to burn off pent energy. If you can't get out, get them moving with dance,movement, yoga. I have this discovery toy that I take out when I see the need. You roll the dice for a color and then pick a card and the person gets to do what it says on the card, sometimes I let everyone do it and sometimes we do a take turn. Unless your weather is very hot, or very cold or down pour take them out. Its work- putting all the clothes on, the outside stuff but will make your day go so much smoother with boys. Best-

[daycarediva]

If you hate outside time and/or for bad weather days, you could always tape off an area that is 'safe' to run in. Allow 2 kids at a time, etc. I have done that before. Whatever keeps me sane and them from breaking the house down. ::

[Patches]

I'm having some boy energy issues myself. It's constant running, super hero fighting, and guns. I feel like I spend my whole day stopping/preventing these things

[blandino]

I'm having some boy energy issues myself. It's constant running, super hero fighting, and guns. I feel like I spend my whole day stopping/preventing these things

YES !!! I think my solution is to get them outside as much as possible AND break them down into smaller groups. I have been using a variety of techniques, mostly from this forum - that seem to be working.

Something else that is working well is, all toys are played with on the floor. So no one HAS to stay seated, but the toys stay on the floor. I believe Blackcat called it "floor based play".

[blandino]

If you hate outside time and/or for bad weather days, you could always tape off an area that is 'safe' to run in. Allow 2 kids at a time, etc. I have done that before. Whatever keeps me sane and them from breaking the house down. ::

Actually, at our old location we had a back room that was used primarily for nap time. So when someone was playing wild, I told them they were free to do it in there. I would LOVE to have that kind of flexibility again, but I can't even really think of a space to do that in.

Honestly, if they were 4 , by licensing regs they could play outside alone. Now, the only reason I would even consider that is we are in a sunroom with HUGE windows lining the wall, so the entire yard is very clearly visible while in the daycare. But, they won't be 4 until May/June/August.

[Unregistered]

How cool to have a fish tank in your bathroom!--(besides the attempted homicide.)