Consumer Homes.

Question:

> I have found out that there is a type of alarm that goes off when a door > is opened, for example a bedroom door.  The alarm does not lock the door, > but when the door is opened it makes a high pitched noise.  You lock the > alarm with a key (it’s not always on), at night or at naptime.  I > understand they are available at Radio Shack among others.  I don’t have > any, but it would have been useful for a pair of foster kids (3 and 2) who > were escape artists and I understand they are popular among foster parents > of really difficult children.  It beats them getting outside!

Thanks, but my problem is mainly when my child is already outside.  I can’t keep my eyes on him every second and a second seems to be all it takes for him to take off….. Karen

Response:

I have found out that there is a type of alarm that goes off when a door is opened, for example a bedroom door.  The alarm does not lock the door, but when the door is opened it makes a high pitched noise.  You lock the alarm with a key (it’s not always on), at night or at naptime.  I understand they are available at Radio Shack among others.  I don’t have any, but it would have been useful for a pair of foster kids (3 and 2) who were escape artists and I understand they are popular among foster parents of really difficult children.  It beats them getting outside!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I went through a stage like this with one of my kids.  My solution, since > she really didn’t seem to be able to understand and live by the rules, was > that she couldn’t play outside unless I had the time to go outside with > her and supervise her VERY closely.   She didn’t like the restrictions, > but even so it took a while before she understood the rules (and was > willing to live by them.) > The other thing I found helpful was to give her positive rules instead of > negative ones:  for instance, when you are playing outside, you have to > stay where you can see me, or see our kitchen window;  when you are > outside, you have to stay outside;  you can only go into other people’s > houses after I have talked to the adult in the house. > I think I would have been FURIOUS with a neighbor who had let my 3 yo in > to watch TV without checking with me first!  If a kid walked in my house > like that, I would walk outside with them and look for a parent.  You must > have been frantic. > Marie HouckHi Marie,

The parents in the house were not aware that my son was there until about the time I found him….their boys are older (13 and 15) so they were down in the recroom….I will try what you suggest.  Adam just doesn’t listen.  I don’t know if he is incapable of understanding fully or is just stubborn….thanks for your response Karen

Response:

>Hey everyone! >I have an almost 3 yr old boy with no fear whatsoever.  Now, if we are >outside and I take my eyes off of him for even a second, he goes into >other people’s houses.  I have retrieved him umteen times telling him >sternly that he CAN’T go into people’s houses without permission, but he >just won’t stop it.   >Karen

         Well, I can give you advise that I myself follow. First of all you can’t trust a child that young to follow your instructions of not going into strangers houses. Especially one with your son’s friendly nature. I put up little latch hooks high up on all doors that lead outdoors, closets that I don’t want little ones in and on the basement door. That solves problems of unwanted escapes. As far as being outdoors with him, dont’ leave him out of sight even for a few seconds. I do this with my kids, I am always outside with them when they are outdoors. My youngest is 2 1/2 so my presence is still needed. I know it’s hard to have to follow them all around, but it only takes one time for something bad to happen. We have swings so that helps, at least I can sit for a while and keep an eye on them. Also suggesting that they ride their bikes in the driveway or draw with sidewalk chalk or blow bubbles will get you off you feet for awhile. Hope this helps.  :] L.Jones

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hey everyone! > I have an almost 3 yr old boy with no fear whatsoever.  Now, if we are > outside and I take my eyes off of him for even a second, he goes into > other people’s houses.  I have retrieved him umteen times telling him > sternly that he CAN’T go into people’s houses without permission, but he > just won’t stop it.  The neighbor two doors down (who up until now, I had > never met) said that her older son was eating breakfast one weekend > morning and my son walked into their kitchen, said "My name is Adam, I > wanna watch TV" so they went down into the rec room and that is where I > found them, watching TV…..Now this may sound cute or even funny, but it > is upsetting my neighbors and myself as I wait for the day that he walks > into the "wrong" house…..Any ideas??? Please e-mail and post. > Thanks > Karen

I went through a stage like this with one of my kids.  My solution, since she really didn’t seem to be able to understand and live by the rules, was that she couldn’t play outside unless I had the time to go outside with her and supervise her VERY closely.   She didn’t like the restrictions, but even so it took a while before she understood the rules (and was willing to live by them.) The other thing I found helpful was to give her positive rules instead of negative ones:  for instance, when you are playing outside, you have to stay where you can see me, or see our kitchen window;  when you are outside, you have to stay outside;  you can only go into other people’s houses after I have talked to the adult in the house. I think I would have been FURIOUS with a neighbor who had let my 3 yo in to watch TV without checking with me first!  If a kid walked in my house like that, I would walk outside with them and look for a parent.  You must have been frantic. Marie Houck

Response:

Hey everyone! I have an almost 3 yr old boy with no fear whatsoever.  Now, if we are outside and I take my eyes off of him for even a second, he goes into other people’s houses.  I have retrieved him umteen times telling him sternly that he CAN’T go into people’s houses without permission, but he just won’t stop it.  The neighbor two doors down (who up until now, I had never met) said that her older son was eating breakfast one weekend morning and my son walked into their kitchen, said "My name is Adam, I wanna watch TV" so they went down into the rec room and that is where I found them, watching TV…..Now this may sound cute or even funny, but it is upsetting my neighbors and myself as I wait for the day that he walks into the "wrong" house…..Any ideas??? Please e-mail and post. Thanks Karen

Response:

Guess what?!  You have one of those children that you have to keep an eye on 24 hrs. a day.  I do too.  My 3 year old is exactly like that. He got up at 6:00 a.m. one morning and walked to his grandmothers house (right beside us).  Everyone else was still in the bed.  I’ve had to put chain locks on our doors (very high up) and absolutely keep my eye on him ALL THE TIME.  The only time I have for doing housework or anything else for that matter is when my husband gets home from work & can watch him.  This is the only solution I’ve found so far, so if you get anymore solutions, I’d appreciate hearing them too. Dena (mother of Dakota, 3) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hey everyone! >I have an almost 3 yr old boy with no fear whatsoever.  Now, if we are >outside and I take my eyes off of him for even a second, he goes into >other people’s houses.  I have retrieved him umteen times telling him >sternly that he CAN’T go into people’s houses without permission, but he >just won’t stop it.  The neighbor two doors down (who up until now, I had >never met) said that her older son was eating breakfast one weekend >morning and my son walked into their kitchen, said "My name is Adam, I >wanna watch TV" so they went down into the rec room and that is where I >found them, watching TV…..Now this may sound cute or even funny, but it >is upsetting my neighbors and myself as I wait for the day that he walks >into the "wrong" house…..Any ideas??? Please e-mail and post. >Thanks >Karen

Response: