I've tried to set up our house so that it's a "yes" environment for Emma, but I often still feel as though I'm saying "no" to her all day long. "No, don't dump the box of spaghetti on the floor." "No, don't get the trash out of the trash can." "No, don't throw crayons into the toilet." "No, you can't climb on the table." I read
a blog entry today that made me think about this whole thing. Clearly, she can't throw crayons in the toilet, but I'm going to make an effort to always say yes when I can.
1 comment:
I know what you mean - I try to say yes a lot (and I think I do), but I find myself saying "no!" to Killy more than I'd like to. I've found it helps a lot to super-baby-proof. Potty-locks on all the toilets (then he can try to put stuff in them and I just don't acknowledge his attempts and he quits after a couple tries), we have locks on all the cabinets except for the pots and pans (he can take those out and play with them as much as he wants), we installed shelves to put photo albums on so he can't reach them, etc. I'm just stumped on some issues, though... Killy loves to bang things on the tv screen. I try to suggest he bang them on the coffee table instead, but he doesn't want to so I have to take the toy away. I can't remove all toys from the living room, though!
I do think the poster on the other blog is talking more about the mentality that some parents have of telling their kids no just to teach them what no means - which is just dumb and/or cruel, depending on the situation. (I don't think either of us fall into that category.) Personally, I don't have the time or energy to fight with a child all day over arbitrary matters!
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