It's been a busy week, and I spent the better part of today at Girl Scout leader training. The laundry and the housework are calling my name, so i have a question for YOU tonight.
How wild is it ok for a boy to be?
David is a really sweet child. Such a sensitive spirit and he can melt your heart in certain moments. But lately, he also has a wild side. I know that I need to give him room to burn off energy (we try to spend as much time outside as possible), but there are times that the wild hair isn't appropriate. Throwing, for example. He'll be playing, excited, happy, and he'll throw a heavy toy across the room. Do I punish him for that? Maybe the first few times, redirection is a good idea - but when he's been told many times not to throw things? He's not mad, just...active.
Or another example...growling in another kid's face. HE thinks it's fun and he gets on these growling kicks where he's growling at everything he sees. I tell him not to do it too loud in someone else's face, it's scary/disturbing/rude. He'll correct the problem right then, but do it again later. In his mind, he's pretending to be a dragon or some other creature. Do I punish him for typical boy behaviors if I've told him it's not ok to do them in that manner?
The Five (#10 Slowly Getting Later Edition)
8 months ago
3 comments:
David is a total sweetie and 100% boy. At his age he won't really be able to think of the consequences of his actions. Nor can he transfer knowledge of one scenario to a new one. Which can mean a million corrections. But it sounds like he really tries to do what you ask. That is one awesome kid!
David is such a sweet boy! A mother of 3 boys once told me to "exercise them like dogs!" ha ha ha, which I agree with. They just need to burn it off. I do constantly correct them in social situations though. I want them to be well behaved and respectful & I think the early years are crucial to forming that.
It's a tough call sometimes. Repetition is part of the deal...ALOT of it. One thing that can be helpful for me is to suggest another behavior to replace the one that I'm not cool with. Instead of growling in your friend's face, have David ask him/her what animal they want to be and create a game (you'll have to facilitate this at first). If he wants to throw stuff, can you do a beanbag toss or those plastic bowling pins or something that isn't likly to do damage inside? It doesn't always work but sometimes suggesting a similar but more practical alternative activity helps. Especially when outside time isn't an option...but when it is, take advantage of it. I'm also not above a little wrestling around to get some of that energy out.
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