How do you kid-proof a kid's room so that they do not destroy everything?
By Teresa W.
@horsesrule (1957)
United States
May 26, 2008 1:55am CST
We have three boys, 8 almost 9, 6, and 3 years old. They sort of share a bedroom or at least during the day, only the 6 year old actually sleeps in it at night by himself. There's so many reasons for that but that's not the reason for this post.
How do you kid-proof a kid's room so that they do not destroy everything? We have lived in a rental house [not ours, we have a lot to fix when we move out] for almost 5 years now. In that time, the boys have destroyed their bedroom. The walls have been written on numerous times with felt pen, pencil, pen, crayon and whatever else you can think of. There are stickers and sticker residue all over the walls too. The windows are cracked and have been taped with tape on both inside and outside [my idea] to hold them together so they are not dangerous. Yes, one of the boys has broken three windows since we have lived here, the oldest boy. The walls of the room are very cheaply made and crack if you lean on them. When the boys discovered that, they started digging at the walls and making huge holes. We have purchased some of that plaster repair stuff and fixed it but we just noticed that they are digging at the walls again! The TV is mounted on the wall. They have broken the strap that holds it in place and it fell several times narrowly missing their baby brothers head! Then we taped the entire TV with that strapping tape and they broke that too. They broke their wooden bunkbed more than once. We've had to repair it since we can't afford a new one. They have destroyed two mattresses by making a hole in them and pulling out the stuffing. I could go on but it just sounds so bad!
I guess I'm wondering, does anyone else have problems like this? I don't want to think that we have the most awful children around but geez, they destroy everything it seems like! So how in the world is a parent supposed to kid proof their room?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@graceandowen (1637)
•
26 May 08
Hi hun i know exactly how you are feeling, i have 2 children my daughter is 3 and a little angel - however my son is just 2 and sounds like your boys, he is a nightmare in all honestey - he has broken and destroys so many things within the past year its unreal - he has a thing about TV's and has broken and smashed 5 since Xmas! He is so destructive and has such a short temper, he has started biting me and hitting me now.
I understand the people who have replied before saying you need to set ground rules etc but that doesnt always work, I have tried all the known disciplins and punishments and none of them work with my son, I am seriously thinking he has behavioural problems but no1 will even entertain the idea until he is at least 5 years old.
Until then i look like i am moving, i have no ornaments or anything breakable, his room has just his bed in there and some soft toys, Its a constant battle to keep him and out things safe!
So i do feel for you hunni i wish i could help but it looks like we are in the same situation lol!
@graceandowen (1637)
•
27 May 08
hi my son has only had a hearing check at birth and that is it, altho he has continuious ear infections and a lack of balance, I have seen the paed and he refuses to test him for meniers disease as he said that is is very rare in adults let alone some1 of his age, yet he is showing all the signs for it, The paed said he prob has vertigo and that is causing the lack of balance. He is a very frustrated little man and has no patients or attention span at all.
thanks for your comments anyways
hge does play out in the garden but he is allergic to the grass so its a struggle sometiemes and when he is outside he has to be dosed up on his anti histamine meds and he gets very drowsy with them.
@grammasnook (1871)
• United States
26 May 08
You should consider getting him a play yard to keep him out of harms way. No doctor should not consider not checking your son for possible issues this young. If they are not willing they are not doing thier job. He is endangering himself. How is he developmentally? Has his hearing been checked? The issues with the tv could be it is to loud and he doesnt know how to stop the noise. I would start there since that is the most dangerous behavior he has had. He may have very sensative hearing.
Good luck!
@shizuoka (352)
• United States
26 May 08
It sounds like you need to set some ground rules for your children and perhaps keep a closer eye on them. Your 8 year old especially, should know better.
There is no way to create a room that can't be destroyed by three children intent on destroying it.
My children are almost 4 and 7. I keep a close eye on what they are doing and if I find that they are not respecting their things and destroying the house, we have a sit-down, eye-to-eye talk about it.
My 3 year old tried drawing on the coffee table and lost her marker privileges for a week. She knows that she is only allowed to draw on paper or her white board easel.
I cannot imagine my children intentionally trying to destroy the house, and they would Really get in trouble for that. It sounds like you need to take charge of the situation and start creating consequences.
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
26 May 08
You've already received some excellent advice. The only thing that I would add would be that it sounds like your children have had much too much unsupervised time for them to be able to destroy that much property. Others seem to think it's not that odd, but I certainly do. I have worked as a day care teacher and director, as one in charge of after school kids, and in children's ministry. I've never seen destructive behaviors in any of those situations.
Perhaps the room is too small for that much activity?
Like the others, for safety's sake, I would take out the TV.
@grammasnook (1871)
• United States
26 May 08
Its about discipline and consequences and being able to follow through. My children were not able to play with another toy until one was put away. My children learned the first time they wrote on the wall it was not acceptable. The windows should be replaced and not taped, they are still very dangerous for them. The tv would be out of the room. Time out in some of these circumstances are very much needed. I never allowed my children to play in the bedrooms until they were older and capable of respecting items. I have always had the living dining room for thier entertainment since I spent most of my time downstairs I could hear and watch them much better. Good Luck!
@raydene (9871)
• United States
26 May 08
Hi Sweets
I would keep those little monkeys
as busy as I could..Give then jobs!
I raised 5 boys + 2 girls and yes things got broke
but I found that busy kids don't break as many things..lol
It doesn't even have to be chores..make up tasks
Good luck!
xoxoxoxoxoxo
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
26 May 08
Kids do things like that. I think every parent has had a child color on the walls. It's such an inviting canvas, lol. And scratches and dents are normal. But your situation has indeed gotten out of control.
I'm not sure what disciplinary measures you took but it is time for some serious ones. Don't fix things for them. Get the TV out of that room. Obviously, they don't treat it right, they don't deserve it. Improperly mounted, it is a major danger anyway. Make them take responsibility in repairing the room. Make them clean out the toys first. Anything broken has to go, no repairs. Anything else goes into a storage bin. Then make them clean and repair the walls. They are old enough. Believe me, they will treat things with more respect once they had to fix them. If the bunkbed breaks, the mattresses are ripped apart, take it away, make them sleep on the floor for a while. If you finally replace things make sure to explain how expensive they are and how long you have to work and how much extra you have to work to be able to do this. Give them responsibilities around the house to work it off. They can clean and scrub and stuff.
As for play time. As soon as they act up, take them to different rooms. If they can't play nicely together they cannot play together period. If they rip things there is some serious time out or work punishment in order, depending on how they do with timeouts.
A lesson your kids have to learn is that they cannot take things for granted. They cost money and money doesn't grow on trees. You have to work and if they need things replaced they have to work for it, too.
