Suggestions Please

[tenderhearts]

I have a very high energetic 19 mo old boy. He has always been a handful, not a very good sleeper but he's definitley improved but he's just very very high energy.
He gets into these "moods" where he purposely does stuff he knows he's not suppose to, such as he will just knock stuff off of the shelf and I'll tell him that's not ok and redirects him he will immediately run and throw a train, then knock a chair over, just what ever is in his path. For awhile I was placing him in the pack n play for a brief separation which really worked and the behavior seemed to subside UNTIL he figured out how to get out of the pac n play. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do?

[Ariana]

I Usually find that making them pick up everything they are throwing or destroying to be the thing that has worked for me. He won't listen of course so I would use a gentle hand over hand technique to pick all of the things up. He will eventually get tired of this and stop being destructive. I would also try and put words to his feelings. If he is in a "mood" try and get him to verbalize it. "Are you feeling sad or angry?" And then let him know it is ok to be sad or angry but not ok to throw toys. Ask him if he needs a hug. Kids at this age act out because they have overwhelming feelings that they cannot express. I have had a ton of success by doing this!

[Unregistered]

Sounds like attention seeking behavior. I'd make sure to connect with him during other times.....a high five, hugs, rocking with him, sitting on the floor with him and looking at a book, pats on the back, etc.

Just sitting on the floor playing with some blocks or other toys with him for 5-10 minutes can go a long way too!

Are you able to get outside? I find when we are outside twice a day behavior really improves.

Have you rotated toys lately? I see things improve when new things show up to play with.

Some states don't allow them, even ones made for kids, but I have a Mini trampoline I get out. I sit right next to it and hold toddlers hands while they jump. Each child gets 15 jumps and we count out loud. Kids three and up jump on their own. I always sit right next to it and monitor it very closely.. That burns off energy!

Good luck!

[Unregistered]

Also, Google Vanderbuilt university social emotional learning. You will be lead To CSEFEL , Center on the Social Emotional foundations for early learning. There is so much info there and lots of printables that you can make into learning props.

[mamamanda]

Maybe he's overstimulated and has trouble calming himself. If the pack n play was making a difference, I'm thinking maybe he needs a calm place to recenter himself. Do you have a calm down area with pillows, soft toys, books etc where you could direct him when he does these things? I had a little one much like this who actually did well with a kid sized table with 2 or 3 toys/activities to choose from. When that was first suggested to me I thought it would never work b/c I didn't think I could get her to sit still long enough, but I just consistently moved her to the table each time she acted out and sat close by to redirect her back if needed. She did end up sitting and playing nicely and actually seeming to enjoy it. The high energy kids can make you crazy at times, but I imagine they feel just as out of sorts as we do when these behaviors happen. Good luck!:hug:

[tenderhearts]

Sorry I haven't been back to read the responses.
I have tried having him help pickup with the hand over hand, he will not do it, he will sit on the floor and throw himself back so hard his head slams the floor, basically a temper tantrum. I do sit and rock him and play on the floor ALL the time but it makes not difference with him because he isn't the type of child to just "sit" with you. The only times he will sit calmly on my lap is right before nap and right after.

I believe he gets over stimulated and or overly tired, because he has never been great sleeper. Mom wanted to go to one nap but that was not working, it made it so much worse I added the morning nap again and boy that has helped so much, the behavior has cut down a lot, I've only seen it a couple times in the last couple weeks and it has been after his afternoon nap because for some reason he poops an hour into his nap then wont go back to sleep.

Normally a child this age I would start weening to one nap but this family wakes early, so he is 19 mo and he is awake by 5 am so his am nap has been 9 and that is typically his longest nap 1 &1/2 hrs and his second nap at 130 which is an 1 and 15 min up to an 2 hours.

I will look into that website given here too. Thanks for the advise

[Fiddlesticks]

Is your nap for everyone 1:30? I moved my nap for everyone to mornings, but before I did that when I had little ones like that who were not quite ready for one nap, but were taking longer morning naps and shorter afternoon naps was to put them down for a nap shortly after they arrived for the day. They would take a shorter, earlier morning nap and then be ready for a good nap when everyone else napped in the afternoons.

[MunchkinWrangler]

Typical boy behavior especially when exhausted. My son has always, literally, started running circles when he was tired. They don't know how to deal with the fact that they're tired and they usually can't voice it at this age, so they keep moving to avoid the crash. My morning naps are no longer than an hour and usually around 9 AM and then I start putting down for PM nap around 12:30 PM, they all sleep for 2 hours or more. I have a 12 month old, a 14 month old, and my son who is 2 and an almost 3 year old.

[daycarediva]

Is your nap for everyone 1:30? I moved my nap for everyone to mornings, but before I did that when I had little ones like that who were not quite ready for one nap, but were taking longer morning naps and shorter afternoon naps was to put them down for a nap shortly after they arrived for the day. They would take a shorter, earlier morning nap and then be ready for a good nap when everyone else napped in the afternoons.

I would lay him down RIGHT when he got there and wake him in an hour or so. Then I would make his PM nap a little sooner (everyones, actually).

He sounds overtired and/or overstimulated. I have a similar dcb, 20m now, and hell on wheels when tired. He literally bounces off the walls.