My 16 month old, and the mistake I made!
Charlene
had absolutely no problems that I couldn't find a solution for, but this
time I'm almost desperate.
I do a lot of painting (watercolor, acrylic, and tole painting) in my spare
time. I kind of consider it my part time job, as I supplement my income with
it. I have staked one wall of the kid's playroom as my "arts and crafts"
area, because we have no other room in the house and this way I can be
around the kids while I'm working. Anyway, up until now the baby was fine
playing in there while I was painting, but lately, he's been coming up to me
and wanting to be picked up a lot. Well, I made the *huge* mistake of
putting him on my lap once, giving him one of my old brushes, and letting
him "paint" on a piece of paper on my desk.
Now, (you can probably predict the problem) he practically insists on
sitting on my lap everytime he's in the room with me, and I can no longer
get anything done. Saying no results in him screeching and throwing a fit,
and then I know that I cannot give in to him at that point, so I have to
stop what I'm doing while he's awake, which is by far the majority of the
day. I'm a little leery about giving him his own paints at this stage - he
doesn't always stay anywhere near the paper and I don't want to be cleaning
up paint from the walls and floor all day.
So, once you have made a mistake like this with a toddler, how do you go
back? Any ideas?
--
Charlene
SD Kaitlin, 11
BD Danielle, 7
BS James, 1.5
??? Due in Nov/00-TBA
SSgt. Dylan W. McGehee
computer. Big mistake. Yep they want to do it *every* time. Even now she
still tries to climb up with me. It takes a lot of tantrums and crying but
I stay firm. My husband never let her come up so she leaves him alone (no
fair!). Lol.
Usually I get on the computer while she's busy - watching Teletubbies or
Blue's Clues. She loves to sit in her brother's high chair and color. Is
there anyway you could do that with him? That way he can be with you, see
what you're doing, you can see him, but have your hands (and lap) free.
Giving Charlotte something to do in her high chair has helped us out a lot.
Good luck.
--
Later, Sophie
mom to Charlotte (2) and Patrick (8 months)
mElmo
> So, once you have made a mistake like this with a toddler, how do you go
> back? Any ideas?
It's not a mistake to have your kid by your side and wanting to emulate what
you do, but I'm sure you know that, really.
The quicker answer would be to "just go back." If he wants to throw a fit,
let him. Get him his own separate easel (our son has one and loves it, by
fisher price) and he can paint to his hearts content. I'd stay away from
the water colors though and opt for colored pencils or crayons, depending on
his age.
AJPDLA
TwinMom
development phase your son is going through. He's now into more social
play - I saw it develop Very Strongly with my twins - one day they ignore
each other, the next, they're inseperable. That being said, you can still
entertain him and have your time too. Try getting one of those small
plastic play pools (Walmart about $5) and putting it in the play room with
some washable paints for him. The washable markers are great also. Give
him some of those fat brushes, some sponges, etc. and let him go to town.
You migh find that, as long as you are near, he will be thrilled to be
copying your activities. Just my 2ข. L
"Charlene" <charlen...@home.com> wrote in message
news:jk0b5.70811$ef6.9...@news1.rdc1.ab.home.com...
> So, once you have made a mistake like this with a toddler, how do you go
> back? Any ideas?
>
Tracey
Charlene,
How about having a selection of 'his' paints and paintbrushes
(inexpensive paint brushes and WASHABLE paint) for him to use while YOU
paint. You could put his high chair in the crafts area and give him his
paints and let him have fun and be confined while you work.
I've done essentially the same thing with my 3 year old and my quilting
area. It is set up as part of the play room....I go down and do my quilting
in my part of the room while she plays in her part of the room. She tends
to get interested in what I am doing, so I let her 'help' me and then
eventually she goes back to playing with her stuff. I also have a scrap
fabric basket which she knows she is allowed to play with anytime she
wants - it makes her feel like a part of what I am doing and we have lots of
fun.
Tracey in CT
Sarah
on the market. Keep in mind Charlene that you probably passed on the
creative gene....*S*...now you gotta nuture it...*S*
Sarah
Mom to Kalen (8) and Victoria (7 months)
Charlene
"TwinMom" <twi...@impulse.net> wrote in message
news:396ca07a$0$1...@news.impulse.net...
> Try getting one of those small
> plastic play pools (Walmart about $5) and putting it in the play room with
> some washable paints for him.
That sounds like a great idea. But where I'm from those plastic pools cost a
whole lot more than $5 at Walmart! Still, a good idea.
...Charlene
Charlene
"Annemarie" <annemari...@paradise.net.nz> wrote in message
news:96343918...@shelley.paradise.net.nz...
> Well some really good replies already. I can remember having similar
> problems when mine were little. I don't know how I would manage now that
I
> am a potter. There is so much more junk and dangerous! junk that you need
> for pottery.
> I have a photo of my sister trying to spin when her son was little. Her
son
> kept trying to put his fingers out and touch the spinning wheel, very
risky.
> So she put him in a play pen. He screamed. The photo I have is her
happily
> spinning inside the play pen, and him happily playing outside the playpen.
> lol
> Annemarie
>
> "Sarah" <sedona_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:Aj2b5.23075$ll.1...@news1.rdc1.az.home.com...
DeMarco
pieces at a historical site nearby. I had the same problem as you,
and what I did was find a teenager in the neighborhood to come over
and play with my daughters a couple of afternoons a week, take them on
walks, have picnics in the backyard, etc. I would go into my craft
room and close the door and was able to get a lot accomplished. What
really helped was to get out my supplies and plan my sessions
carefully, so no time was wasted once the sitter arrived. I also let
her know that I could only be disturbed in an emergency, and she was
to keep the girls relatively quiet and away from the room where I was
working.
Hope this helps!
Margaret
dem...@ix.netcom.com
Charlene wrote in message ...
Annemarie
problems when mine were little. I don't know how I would manage now that I
am a potter. There is so much more junk and dangerous! junk that you need
for pottery.
I have a photo of my sister trying to spin when her son was little. Her son
kept trying to put his fingers out and touch the spinning wheel, very risky.
So she put him in a play pen. He screamed. The photo I have is her happily
spinning inside the play pen, and him happily playing outside the playpen.
lol
Annemarie
"Sarah" <sedona_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Aj2b5.23075$ll.1...@news1.rdc1.az.home.com...
> Non-toxic, completely vegetable based paints and finger paints are
available
> on the market. Keep in mind Charlene that you probably passed on the
> creative gene....*S*...now you gotta nuture it...*S*
>
> Sarah
> Mom to Kalen (8) and Victoria (7 months)
>
>
> Charlene <charlen...@home.com> wrote in message
> news:jk0b5.70811$ef6.9...@news1.rdc1.ab.home.com...
toto
<charlen...@home.com> wrote:
>LOL...that's a good one! I can just see it.
>
Actually we used that one with older brother and younger sister. He
would climb into the playpen and happily plan with the small toys
that were too dangerous for her because she still put them in her
mouth..
Dorothy
>
>"Annemarie" <annemari...@paradise.net.nz> wrote in message
>news:96343918...@shelley.paradise.net.nz...
There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..
source unknown
Steve
Tempera is made of egg-white and is harmless and non-toxic. Get him his
own paints and a stand for them!
Steve
Jude
> SD Kaitlin, 11
> BD Danielle, 7
> BS James, 1.5
> ??? Due in Nov/00-TBA
Charlene,
We got Kat an easel when she was two. Got the tempera paints and a
huge package of paper from SAMS (something like 14X36 & heavy grade).
I kept the paints in an upper cabinet and always put a smock on her.
Each kid is different, but she still dripped paint on the floor and it
still got all over her hands. Also, she wanted a new sheet of paper
every 3 minutes. By 3 or 4 I left the paints out and she did her own
thing, though I had to help her clean up. Now our other 2 yr old
grandbaby wants to paint when she's over, but it gets all over her &
she not only uses the brushes, but her hands. It gets on her clothes,
feet & the floor as she walks away from the easel. If your son is
like that, you still won't get any work done. I like the idea of the
plastic pool, but would switch to the big colored chalk & construction
paper, water and sponges cut into designs. Then if he leaves the pool
area, he won't be tracking anything serious with his feet and hands
and you could still keep working. Just my suggestion.
Good luck, Judy
Jeannie716
I forget how big a 1.5 year old is, but can you put him in a playpen, lay down
a vinyl mat UNDER the playpen to protect the rug, and give him some paper and a
small paint set? This way he's contained, having fun, and nothing will get on
your rug or walls?
I'm talking about those small little paint sets you can pick up at the grocery
store where the glue and scotch tape and poster board stuff is sold.
Or if he's still in a high chair, use that, just buy the biggest vinyl
tablecloth you can to put underneath it!
Jeannie :)