[faithnj]

My daughter (19 months) wants everything in the world OPENED. This has been going on for a month or two. Right now, she wants me to open her rattle. Almost every day she asks me to open one of her blocks. How can I explain to a child her age that everything can not be opened??? At the rate she's going, it's amazing she hasn't asked me to "open" dirt! This is starting to drive me nuts, because she's so earnest that sometimes she's on the verge of tears if I can't open something for her. She looks disappointed. I feel freaked out over not being able to help her.

Anybody got any ideas???

:

Faith

 

[Ellp]

My Dd's been doing that too, for the past month. She'll be 18mo on the 7th. What I do is to teach her other terms "close", "on", "off", and that seems to destract her as well as introduce her to other concepts.

I also explain to her that some things can't or won't be opened, like container of organic yoghurt to play with while I'm making dinner and in a rush. (I don't mind her making a mess, but in my mind food isn't for wasting, especially if its expensive stuff that I can't replace this week due to our budget.) I do give her something else to be opened though like a plastic see-through container of a tablespoon or so or uncooked rice. It rattles, its not sticky, its vaccuum-able, and its cheap to replace. It destracts her enough that I can do some quick cooking.

I figure its all a part of their normal develpment, that they're learning about their world and how it works. This too shall pass.

 

[hipumpkins]

Get a hammer...anything can be opened with a little force

 

[Destinye]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellp My Dd's been doing that too, for the past month. She'll be 18mo on the 7th. What I do is to teach her other terms "close", "on", "off", and that seems to destract her as well as introduce her to other concepts. I also explain to her that some things can't or won't be opened, like container of organic yoghurt to play with while I'm making dinner and in a rush. (I don't mind her making a mess, but in my mind food isn't for wasting, especially if its expensive stuff that I can't replace this week due to our budget.) I do give her something else to be opened though like a plastic see-through container of a tablespoon or so or uncooked rice. It rattles, its not sticky, its vaccuum-able, and its cheap to replace. It destracts her enough that I can do some quick cooking. I figure its all a part of their normal develpment, that they're learning about their world and how it works. This too shall pass.

DD did that for a while too, especially she wanted to open her pretend baby bottle of milk (it came with a doll DD never had bottles of milk but she liked to play with them). She would get very frustrated and upset. Finally she got it though. We taught her about off and on too which she got except if it is dark outside she will argue and say no its 'on' for the sun, so I guess I have some more explaining to do.

 

[broodymama]

Same here, except for DS it is "on".

This too shall pass... this too shall pass...

 

[faithnj]

Yeah, my dd knows on and off, up and down, open and closed, round and round. But she's still stuck on most things being "openable." I like the idea to just give her something else that IS openable. (Or a hammer! LOL!) Why didn't I think of that? I hope she doesn't get peeved with me for trying to substitute.

Thanks!

Faith