So I have a 2 year old boy and a 3 year old girl. Unfortunately they decided to do the terrible 2 thing TOGETHER. In the last 48 ours they have started a fire in the microwave, Destroyed many things in our home, and then this morning they laughed while they were ripping all the keys off my laptop.(took 2 hrs to get it put together) I am a single mother, their dad barely sees them and I need advice on how to get them to behave somewhat. I know kids will be kids, I just dodnt know why they are so destructive. Any tips or advise?

You could pull the old time tested "do what I say or the bunny gets it" routine

They dont give a damn about the bunny for real .

Seriously...not funny...where were you everytime they did these dangerous stunts?

Find their week spot favorite toy or anything use that for leverage

Typically, children want to please their role models. So, if you explain that things like microwaves will give them 'owies' or something (talk to them on their level of understanding) along those lines... they will stay away from it.

The first few times you try this, do not get frustrated because they ran back and tried to operate the microwave again. Simply pick the child up and explain to them what you are doing. "Suzie, do you know what you did that could have hurt you?" Wait for her response and then explain. "You have to stand in the corner now for 2 minutes (one minute for each year of their life) because Mommy already said this was a no-no. You can get owies from the microwave." Then you stand directly behind the child for the full two minutes.

She might throw a temper tantrum the first few times but once she gets used to the routine, parenting is SO much easier than it was before. Oh, and always make sure to explain to the child that you don't do things that would make them suffer, you only do things to keep them safe.

My daughter, at the age of three, took a screwdriver to my dining room set while I was at work and my husband was 'sleeping'. By the time I returned home, she had dismantled every single chair. (lol) Another time, she destroyed $150.00 of new make-up and still another time, she took a permanent marker to every white wall in my apartment. Yeah, it probably would have been cheaper to hire a babysitter instead of leaving the husband to watch her (lol).

Little tykes are curious and they want to know how things work. They want to touch everything to experience it for the first time with that sense of utter amazement. So, be careful that you don't destroy their curiosity.

You may also want to try something like 'Story Time'. It worked great for the kids at my daycare. Oh, and a swing set or short walks to the park worked wonders to tire the wee folks (lol). They are so full of energy!

i feel your pain! i just left my kids' dad and moved 1300 miles from everything we know. my 2 1/2 year old has been acting out. An older friend of mine reminded me that my son has feelings too and to talk with him more. So i sit with him, hold him tight and talk, ask him what he needs.
Sometimes when i just cant get thru to him, tho, I do threaten to put him outside in the dark... seems horrible, but i think you just have to find how to get to them!

Time out is a good thing. It gives you and the child time to calm down and reflect on the situation. Kids literally strive for discipline and routine. Toddlers especially tend to have "bad behavior" or to act out when their schedules are out of whack.
It sounds like your kids are acting on each other's curiosity. Try games that will help fill that need. You don't have to spend a lot of money to do it either. You can take an empty wet-wipe container, the kind with the flip up lid, and stick a couple things in there. Have your child reach in without looking, and see if they can guess what it is before they pull it out. The looks on their face when they get it right is priceless. Other mind stimulating things like coloring, puzzles, books, building (and of course knocking it down) are all things that will help stear your child from doing the "bad stuff" to stimulate their minds. The talks as mentioned earlier are very important, but it's just as important to talk in a calm voice.

It can be very stressful, I know, my oldest was constantly into something. If you turned your back for 30 seconds he'd have done something, no joke. At the end of the day, reflect back on the GOOD parts, it will help you rest, warm your heart, and help prepare you for the next battle. lol

my youngest has been acting up to at times she does miss her dad a lot we are not together any more, but if she did some thing like that i would for sure put her in time out or i would spank her if you believe in that or not, then i would talk to her nice try and not be mad or any thing just talk, if that don't work i would ground her from all her toys and games and such any thing she likes to do

a good kick in the *** will help.

""""I know kids will be kids"""""

wrong kids will be what you permit them to be

Time outs and spankings. Be consistant and clear about the bounderies. Explain what they did wrong and why they are being punished.

Good luck!

the kind of discipline and teaching that you want to do takes a lot of time as you will have to ACT (as in actions are more important than words here- sometimes it's best to act in the absence of words)anyway you will have to be consistent , repetitve and act immeidately to facilitate permanent changes in behavior

your children will need to be frequently rewarded for good things you approve of - any little things you can think of to reward - eve njust successfully listening to you....rewards can be anything from hugs to cheese curls to special outings, or special tv time w/e (just don't overdo it) ignore as much as you can BTW- let the little stuff slide. Focus on onr or two very specific behaviors at a time that you wish to change.

before u know it- you'll be looking back & wondering what u were so upset about

I just feel for u because I think singles parents have a harder time getting enough time to properly discipline. You'll have to do what u can to do that.

How about introducing the "board of education" to the "seat of knowledge". And you may want to do that before your house comes down around you.

agree with the above

to the OP-
hello, i cant believe they can even reach the microwave honestly, and after that stunt, why were they out of time out already, second, leave your laptop up somewhere they wont find it. 3rd, pee with the door open, your kids can NOT be trusted.

two word's .....duct tape !!!!!

Using violence teaches violence......they maybe mechanically inclined and are trying to figure things out for these types of children toys that can be dissembled and put back together are good making them put together what they have torn assunder is good cleaning up their own destructiveness.....more quality time and timeout or removal of their favorite things works too......these type of children will not respond to violence in anyway shape or form....if they refuse to stay in timeout as my daughter did sitting on them not heavily but enough to keep them there for the duration makes them understand you mean business and you are willing to do what it takes to ensure they do as told by taking the time to do so......in this situation they are reaching for attention and even negative attention of spanking is still attention......do a sheet they can understand of smiley faces or color codes so they can understand where they are in their own behaviors....also adding time like 5 mintues for not staying in timeout and use a timer so they know when their time is up.....that way they will know timeouts do end. Just some types of things to do......hope things work for you....remember their lives have been disrupted by the removal from their father figure......

It's tough for single moms. A mother's love is unconditional for a reason. It says "I love you no matter what". "You can be on death row and I'll still love you". This type of unconditional love gives a sense of security, which in the early stages of life is critical because children don't yet understand the world enough to gain a secure sense of "I'm alright because I know how to avoid danger". A mother's love is unconditional and is given in spite of everything else. It can not be earned, thus it requires no consideration beyond simple existence.

Fatherly love is different. In a sense, it IS conditional because it says " I love you because you accept my guidance". This type of love IS earned in so much that it requires compliance to the father's authority. Because it's earned it gives a sense of self esteem through the gradual realization that dad's approval is within the child's own control and by winning approval from dad they have control and in the process I win self esteem along with dad's esteem.

It's not impossible, but it is very difficult to provide both types of love as a mom. It comes natural to give unconditional love as a mother. Giving the very critical guiding love is much less natural but can be achieved by making sure that there are practical unchanging rules (appropriate for the age development range) in place without ambiguity.

It's a child's nature to explore the brand new world around them so they shouldn't be punished for doing what's in their nature but it's a parent's job to set clear boundaries that are based on principles set to help them understand the pitfalls as well as the rewards of their behavior.

It's certainly true that a mom's job is the hardest job in the world, so take lots of deep breaths, don't beat yourself up, seek support (as you are doing now), and always try hard to remember that children are happiest when they have consistent but always loving discipline.

Wishing you all the wonderful joys and rewards of parenthood. It's a daunting and sometimes completely frustrating experience but believe me, when you get to watch your children passing down those golden principles to their own kids, you forget all about how completely crazy it made you at times.

Hmmm....my thoughts exactly.


Obviously not in the room when this happened...any of it.


At 2 and 3 years old, they need a whole lot more engagement and supervision than they are obviously getting...

perhaps Mum could ask for some help from friends, family to spend one on one time with each child.

i think she needs a leash...............





sorry.................