Another questions about my 16 month old...?

Question

we just moved from an apartment to a house, with a fenced in back yard, and a very large front yard.

i love that we have a yard for him to play in, and we spend a lot of out time outside.

but, when it is time to come in, he cries the whole time, and goes to the door.

even when i am cooking super or washing dishes he screams at me, and pushes me away trying to get me to carry him outside.

i have tried everything...

i have bought him new toys for the inside to play with, and they only last about 30 minutes, then he wants to go back outside.

i have tried bringing in his outside toys.. and he wont have it.

i even try to get in the floor and spend time with him inside.

i really do love being outside, but im in alabama, and its VERY hot here.

and i havent watched one tv show in 2 weeks.

if it storms, or he gets sick... i dont know what im going to do!

Answer 1

I would recommend putting him on a schedule. Young children respond very well to that. As a toddler teacher at a daycare I know exactly what you mean. If you set a same time every day that he goes out he will be more understanding.

If you go out at different times each day he can be confused on why he cannot be outside all time time.

I would set a time for him that is convinient for you both and that can be done everyday. Like at day care we have morning snack at 10 and then we go outside to play from around 10:30 to 11:30 everyday.

If it gets to hot get a sprinkler or something we to do outside that you both can enjoy.

and I would embrace his love of the outdoors now because in a few years and will want to be playing video games and you will have to drag him outside.

Answer 2

Ugh, kids are so frustrating sometimes.  Once they find something they like, that is all they want to do.  I highly recommend getting a playpen.  I did when my son was this age and it was great to be able to set him down and have a chance to do some other things, like cook dinner, do dishes, laundry, breathe, go to the bathroom, etc.  Just beware, at around 20 months they will discover how to crawl out of the playpen.  So don't buy an expensive one.   You are the parent.  You decide when it is time to go outside.  Good luck.

Answer 3

He is at the age where tantrums begin, and you need to stick to your rules.  It may help to give him warnings before coming in - one at 10 minutes, one at 5 minutes, and again at 1 minute before coming in.  

Last year when my daughter 18 months old, she got like this everytime we were leaving the playground, so I tried giving the gradual warnings.  It took a few weeks for her to get it and stop throwing the tantrums over it, but now she is no problem at all about it  :)