I babysit a 2 yr old. I have been taking him to gymnastic classes over about the last ten wks. Now the lady who does the class wants to have a little show, so the parents can come see what they've been doing, give them all little medels and stuff. He is a very good little boy, very rarly even gets a time out for anything. When I say something at home he almost always listen to me right away, I never yell at him or anything like that. Even when there are other children around and he wants to grab or hit or whatever, it only takes a warning that a time out will happen if he is not nice or does not listen to me. Well when we are in class, he just does not listen, we talk about listening so we can learn fun things and all that before we get there. When we get there, he could not care less anymore, we all sit against the wall in a row (parents with kids) and they take turns going up for the instructor to help with there turn. Then they are expected to go and sit down again. He has started running off to go play, not listening to warnings that he needs to sit down or he won't get his turn or his reward stamps at the end of class. He doesn't care, doesn't want take a turn, would rather play. But the point of the class is not really to learn gymnastics but to sit and take turns, etc. I'm sad to say I've tried bribes ( never thought I would) like, "If you sit still and listen, we can get french fries when we're done" or " Do you want to watch your movie in the car?" And he acts like he can't hear me, after I do hold him down, while he continues to twist himself around, maybe even yell, he soon says "Sorry, I didn't mean to. I want to snuggle". Then I have the choice of cuddling him to get him to behave (not like it makes a differance for the next turn) or saying "No! you are going to sit there like a big boy and listen to the teacher." I have talked to his mom about this, but since he never behaves anything like this any other time, I don't think she really gets what I'm saying.
The show is coming up on Thurs. I know there will be parents, cameras and oos and aahhs coming from everywhere and I want to avoid a scene.
Please understand I am not expecting anything unreasonably good from him. It is only about 30 min of taking turns and stuff then they get free play. He loves to do the activities, tumbling, balance beam, headstands, all that. Just not enough that he wants to sit for them. I know he is only testing the limits, but I don't know what would get through to him. I don't want to quit tha class, then he would never have to listen to a teacher or take turns.
Now I either accompany him the six feet to the teacher so I can grab him when he is done or chase him after he runs away.
I am willing to hear any advice from someone who has experiance. Please tell me if you see a mistake I'm making somewhere. Thank-you so much!
Tags: