How to stop a child from opening classroom door and running out?

Question

The Toddler Rm. at the center I work at has a child who opens the classroom door constantly and runs into the community room. This causes a teacher to leave the room to chase after him with several other toddlers following. This started in the Infant Room. He was an early walker and has never stopped! Any suggestions on how to get control of it? There is nothing structural that we can do since we rent from a church. Help!

Answer 1

I feel for the mom/teacher.  It's hard not to be embarrassed when it's the "teacher's child" who is having the issue.  For some reason we tend to feel that a "teacher's child" should know better...and have been taught...but really... they are just being kids.  It's hard when we are in the same classroom with our own child because it's difficult to stay objective.  

As for toddlers...it's always greener on the other side of the "fence".  :-)  And the community room is probably a big room with LOTS and LOTS of running space...and isn't that what they want?  It's also a "button" to push for mom/teacher.  May I suggest that this mother turn the situation over to the other teacher/aide in the classroom and stay out of the correction.  

Definately provide visuals.  It's probably against some sort of policy to lock the door but find a child-safety lock to put on it...it will at least stall him and allow for an adult to be there for a reminder.  They have bright colored duct tape and masking tape available...that's a grand idea.  Another idea...rearrange the room so that there is a shelving unit close to the doorway...providing a "hallway"...this again is a visual as well as providing time for a teacher to get over there.  

Good luck!

Answer 2

lock the door!  This is about the child's safety - the only time I lock my doors is when I have a runner.  You could install a hook and eye at the top of the door if it doesn't lock already.

Answer 3

It depends on his age but you may be able to put a simple behavioural plan in place.

You could let him do something functional with his skill.

For instance he gets to open the door when other people want to enter like other staff or parents of other children - as he's mother is the teacher he's going to be the first to get there and the last to leave.

The behavioural side of it is stopping him from running out of the room.

You could start with giving him a reward for each time he opened the door without running in to the other room.

Once he's got used to that then he should be fine.

You could also give the group time in the bigger room if possible.

Answer 4

I am sure that due to safety issues (such as escaping in case of fire) you can't lock the door from the inside. However, you can purchase door k**b covers that will prevent the child from being able to open the door (assuming you have typical round door k***s).http://www.amazon.com/Secure-Grip-Door-K...

With a toddler, you can set the limits verbally (by telling him where he can and can not go) and physically (tape as suggested), but it will take time and lots of consistent repetition for him to understand. On the other hand, some toddlers (even preschoolers) just never get it. I have a friend whose child was a runner from day one and didn't get over it until he was 6 or so.

Think about the times and situations when he is leaving. Is there any consistent pattern? For example, at mealtimes, at diaper changing time, or at transition times. Try to be one step ahead of him and catch him before he can get near the door.

You could try setting a chair in front of the door. That might slow him down a bit, but be easy to move in an emergency.

I can remember having children that we had to watch carefully one-on-one. Whatever we were doing, we tried to keep that child near us. It was usually for biting situations, but might work for running children, too.

Consider why he is running. Is there something outside the door he's interested in or wants? Or is it just because he can? Is it because he gets a lot of excitement and attention out of it? For the last reason, be sure you're extremely calm and quiet about the entire thing. Try teaching the other toddlers that they can not leave the room, even if you do. Say very little about it - the less attention he creates, the better. Just "We stay in our room." or (by this point) get down to his level, say a very firm "No." once and steer him back to the room.

Also (as others have mentioned) try to keep him interested in what's going on in the room. Watch for when he's losing interest and get him into something else.

Answer 5

Ok toddlers can be a real handful.  For one that likes to run he probably has a short attention span therefore he needs to be kept busy at all times which can really be hard with other kids. You need to sit this kid down and tell him his boundaries, where he is or isn't allowed to go.  Setting down physical boundaries like tape on the floor should help. If he keeps running down the hallways then you need to tell his parents and have them explain the importance of boundaries about where he can and cannot go.  Try this remember that most kids understand more than most people give them credit for. Hope this helps and good luck.

Answer 6

Block the door k**b so he can't get to it or can't open it.  I think they sell things like that at Wal-Mart.

Answer 7

I had the same problem when I worked at a daycare in a toddler room.  I used tape with and told the kids they aren't allowed past it.  It took a few days, but they learned where they were allowed to be.  After about a week, most of the kids stopped going pass the tape.

    You can also try a gate.  They used them in the other rooms of the day care I worked it.  I couldn't use one because I was downstairs and the kids i had were running up the steps and putting a gate would be a fire hazard.  

Good Luck!