Susan
June 2nd, 2004, 03:11 PM
I'm not sure if I have ridiculous expectations here. Overall, my baby is very good, not *terribly* curious or rambunctious, and I rarely have had to say "NO!" to him to get him to stop doing something. (Oh, I know... just wait. :lol: )
However, I'm trying to teach him his first lesson and I don't know if I'm being stupid, or if it will work. I've watched Dr. Phil and he always says that children need to be able to predict, "with 100% accuracy", the consequences of their actions. So here's what the deal is with Josiah:
When he's in his high chair, he's actually pretty neat. He's never thrown food or made a huge mess. But he will take a piece of banana, or a "handful" of something he happens to be eating, he'll reach his hand straight out, and drop it on the floor. At first when he started I thought it was cute and funny. Now, he looks at me to see if I'm going to react, then drops it.
Now when he moves his arm over the edge of his highchair tray, I look at him sternly and say "NO!". I do'nt want to make a big production, but want to acknowledge and tell him no. Half the time he brings the food to his mouth and eats it. The other 50% he drops the food. He doesn't laugh and giggle, but he does look at me.
I immediately pull the tray off his highchair and take the rest of the food away. I tell him, not really expecting him to understand yet, "you dropped the food on the floor, we take it away." Something like that.
So my question is, do you think my 11 month old gets it? Or maybe he'll soon start getting it if I consistently respond that way? Or is this something a child can't comprehend until they're, say, 2 years old and I'm being stupid?
TIA for reading my LONG post and responding!
However, I'm trying to teach him his first lesson and I don't know if I'm being stupid, or if it will work. I've watched Dr. Phil and he always says that children need to be able to predict, "with 100% accuracy", the consequences of their actions. So here's what the deal is with Josiah:
When he's in his high chair, he's actually pretty neat. He's never thrown food or made a huge mess. But he will take a piece of banana, or a "handful" of something he happens to be eating, he'll reach his hand straight out, and drop it on the floor. At first when he started I thought it was cute and funny. Now, he looks at me to see if I'm going to react, then drops it.
Now when he moves his arm over the edge of his highchair tray, I look at him sternly and say "NO!". I do'nt want to make a big production, but want to acknowledge and tell him no. Half the time he brings the food to his mouth and eats it. The other 50% he drops the food. He doesn't laugh and giggle, but he does look at me.
I immediately pull the tray off his highchair and take the rest of the food away. I tell him, not really expecting him to understand yet, "you dropped the food on the floor, we take it away." Something like that.
So my question is, do you think my 11 month old gets it? Or maybe he'll soon start getting it if I consistently respond that way? Or is this something a child can't comprehend until they're, say, 2 years old and I'm being stupid?
TIA for reading my LONG post and responding!