we have a child in our care who everytime you ask her to stop doing something or redirect her she looks at you, laughs and runs away wanting you to chase her. She is 4. Am I doing the right thing by stopping and looking at her and saying sternly I do not play the chase me game I told you to _____. She will run away I am sure just to test me to see if I will chase her and I don't. Will this eventually stop? And at what age? She is 4 and VERY VERBAL so I know she understands words. I can see this behavior coming from a toddler but a 4 year old? Now i know of a few 4s who will run when they they think they are in trouble but they are NOT laughing and thinking it is a game but this girl does. Isn't the laughing and game playing toddler behavior?
How Do You Stop The "Chase ME" Game
Collapse
X
-
If she's 4, she's old enough to listen to instructions. Especially when you say them STERNLY and give her "the look". If she does not obey, I would have her stick by you for a period of time. She has to walk around the house holding hands with you, and if you sit, she has to sit very close to you. That shows her that she cannot be trusted and must stay close so you can watch her. I'd do it for at least 30 min and possibly more if she doesn't catch on. Tell her exactly why she's having to do it. If she complains as the time goes on, remind her.
ETA: You used the word "we", so maybe you're in a center?? If so, I would just completely ignore her when she does this behavior. Don't give her actions any attention - in fact, walk away or turn your back. She'll stop when there's no pay-off. (As long as she's not leaving the classroom, that is.)- Flag
-
That is exactly what I would do, too.- Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them.- Flag
Comment
-
Have you notified the parents of this? It needs to be nipped in the bud pronto as it's dangerous behavior. What if she played that game in a parking lot? Stop it now, stop it quick.- Flag
Comment
-
They are aware and they just got her to stop doing it in parking lots.
There are so many more issues with this child however those will be other posts at a later date.
I do ignore a lot of her behaviors and still make sure she is safe. She has gone as far as to come over and lean into my face to look at me when I have ignored her.- Flag
Comment
-
You mentioned this is not the only troubling behavior. Has she been evaluated by anyone regarding her multiply issues? Could it be a mental disorder of some sort that's effecting her ability to perceive danger or understand a change in tone of voice?Celebrate! ::
- Flag
Comment
-
That's the way it looks to me. I know there are mental disorders where the brain cannot interpret that different tones of voice and inflections mean different things. She was probably taught the chase me game as a game and her brain can't see it as anything else. Might be better if you allow only one time or area for the chase me game to be played so that when she runs you can say something like "dcg we are inside and that game is for outside after snack only. Now come and pick up the toys please." Might work might not. With the known drug addiction in her background she should be evaluated routinely. Good luck.Celebrate! ::
- Flag
Comment
Comment