Look At Me....Look At Me....

[KBCsMommy]

DCG 3 is constantly looking for attention with these phrases..."look at my dress".... "I'm wearing sandals"... "I have brown eyes".... etc.

and on... and on... and on....

It's contant, it's all she talks about, it's starting to wear on me. It's the first thing she says in the morning.

And now DCB 2 is starting to do this as well.

I have been saying "Go play toys" when she starts. It's not working. We're going on months of this behavior.

Is there anything else I can do?!!!!

[Blackcat31]

Not exactly the same thing but the same:

Have him do "watch me" with the youngest walker in your group. Tell him SHE/HE is the one who watches.

If Susie is the youngest walking/playing kid then tell him that Susie does "watch me".

So when he says "Watch me on the slide" say "Johnny tell Susie"
When he says "watch me on the swing" say "tell Susie"
When he says "watch me throw the ball" say "Susie"

So each time you lessen the words from three word prompt to a two word prompt then a one word promt.

Then if he keeps it up just point to Susie when he says it and look away from him. NO eye contact... no words ... just point to Susie

The idea is to get him to use his mates as his audience NOT you. The youngest walker in the room will love the attention and be an excellent audience. Match up the one who needs it most with the one most willing to give it.

Other threads about attention seekers

https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=attention+seeking

[AmyKidsCo]

I just repeat whatever they said back to them.

"Yes, I see you have sandals on today..." "I see you're wearing a dress..." "I see you throw the ball..."

Then follow up with something like BC said. "Did you show Timmy your sandals?"

[KBCsMommy]

I just repeat whatever they said back to them.

"Yes, I see you have sandals on today..." "I see you're wearing a dress..." "I see you throw the ball..."

Then follow up with something like BC said. "Did you show Timmy your sandals?"

This is what I did at first but then it would escalate the conversation to "look how beautiful I am, don't you think I'm so beautiful." I think this is what she was wanting me to say. I didn't want to feed more into the "I am so cute" behavior.

I will definitely do what Blackcat suggested and what you suggested "Did you show Timmy ....". I use this technique for tattling but I never thought to use it for attention seeking behaviors.

Thank you

[daycarediva]

I have them tell each other.

My current crew of kids WOULD NOT even talk to each other if I didn't force them to. *I* am SO boring. (They are all 19m-4 1/2) so this wasn't a language issue- it's purely conditioning to adult attention and constant interaction.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have them tell each other, too. I'm 6 months in with a 4yo and she still does it. I just say, "Tell your buddy! " and look away.

Only child. Constant attention at home.

[Laurie]

That use to drive me nuts also!! For the past 5 years I changed to only watching infants until pre-school age 2-2.5yrs. I only fill my openings with infants now. It's cut down on all the talking and rambling nonsense!! 😂