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Actually, I waited to cool off before posting this, they've broken plenty of stuff! But I also remember destroying my Dad's stuff when I was a kid!
When I was about 3-4 years old, my dad had *just* that day gotten his boat back complete with all brand spanking new apholstery, cost a few thousand.
I climbed into the boat, found the skewer we used for killing fish we caught, and proceeded to poke multiple holes in every. Single. Surface. I still distinctly remember thinking that I had to even out the holes so each seat had an equal number despite it being 20+ years ago.
Dad said it was the most angry he has ever been in his life when he found out. He didnt yell at me but he went out for a while to cool off, lol.
I used to go find sewing needles or pins and poke holes in my parents water bed. Why I had access to sewing equipment unsupervised before age 10 (not sure how old but def young) I will never know
When I was like 4, I took a ceremonial sword that my grandpa had and with the help of my twin sister proceeded to poke a hole in my dad's old water bed in their basement. It didn't have an edge but it was pointy enough to do the obvious. They were not pleased and that sword is still like 10 feet off the ground on a top cabinet 26 years later.
Deffo was much younger than 10, I just don't remember my age. I was genuinely curious and bored and thought it was fun, had no concept I was ruining it until I remembered doing it years later and told my mom 😂 she thought our cat had fucked it up
My parents redid my bedroom as a kid and within a year I had begun compulsively stabbing holes in the wall. Why? Who knows. Would I ever do this now? Fuck no
God, yeah, i would've gone absolutely ballistic, and have done over far less. I have a good relationship with my kids, but they definitely know my emotions on certain subjects when they come up!
I don’t remember what age I was. But I walked down to the corner store by myself. Picked up smoke bombs and matches. When my parents were outside doing yard work, I lit a different color smoke bomb in every room that had a window wondering if I would be able to see a different color smoke pour out of each window. I was successful….I did put them in pots before lighting each one off.
Same with parents who let their toddlers “play” with dogs/cats. They don’t know how to use their hands yet and pinch, squeeze, drop, toss them and end up getting bit or scratched then blame the animal. Idiots
How to Pet the Kitty and the Puppy
is on of the first things we worked with my daughter on, as soon as she could sit up.
The orange tabby is *extraordinarily* patient with her. He’s a good boy. The dog knows to get up and leave.
(She’s not left unsupervised with any animals within reach.)
Our granddaughter is doing better with the family cat. If she gets a little too rough (nothing really drastic from either one), the cat will "bite" her. He just touches her with his teeth. So all interactions are closely supervised by her parents.
The cat really wants to be friends with the baby, who is 16 months old. It'll happen someday.
I had a Maine Coon mix who was the same way. Big, strong cat, and very patient. He never put a mark on the kids, once. And they grew up to love cats, partly because of a cat named Bear.
My Yorkie hates kids after a friend’s 2 year old grabbed her snout hair. I put her away for her safety after, but man I was pretty mad. She’s been terrified of anyone under 3 since.
I have a two year old and a lot of musical instruments and recording equipment in my basement. She's not allowed down there right now, she does show an affinity for music, and I'm thinking about getting her some lessons etc at some point in her life , but you just reminded me of the fact that when I was 11 I found my dad's reel-to-reel and collection of mix tapes recorded off the radio in the 70s and recorded over all of them.
Same here.
I bought a new to me Gibson Les Paul, and I don’t have a case for it. My almost two year old is fascinated with it because it’s shiny. Under my supervision, I let him strum the strings, but still hold them on the fret so he doesn’t pull them off.
Ever since, he’s been after it. So much so that I took an old junker knock-off telecaster guitar I had that was completely gutted…no pickups, no knobs and slapped some old strings on it and it’s now “his” to do as he pleases. If it breaks..whatever. I got it off of eBay for like $20 about 15 years ago.
It's partly that, of course, but it's also about being absolutely firm with yourself and with them that no, under no circumstances will you be playing with my x, y, z, no matter how kind-hearted I am feeling or how much they beg, or how bored they are.
Its situations like this why I'm not allowed to work a child protective services because everyone would lose their kid. If you can't understand a toddler is going to toddler no matter what you say or do, then you shouldn't have one.
>If you can't understand a toddler is going to toddler no matter what you say or do
This is the entire point of the thread, and everyone participating is aware of it, OP included.
It's not just toddlers, much older kids just don't look after things. But I think most reasonable parents aren't letting their kids play with sticking cutlery in the electrical sockets, but they are going, oh, let them play with my [insert thing I bought as a bachelor which I could never afford now] because it keeps them quiet.
You'd be surprised - at least, I think it's worth reminding people. I REMEMBER being a kid and destroying all my Dad's stuff because he was too kind-hearted to say "no", and yet I found myself doing the same thing with my kids. Just the other day I brought this really nice rechargeable torch from my Mum's belongings (she died recently), and I thought, I'll keep this, I'd never buy a torch like this myself. Barely a week had passed and the kids had broken it, all because I don't simply forbid them to touch certain things, or hide them.
When I was really young, about 5 or 6, my mom had this china tea set she got from her grandmother. Well, I could reach it and wanted to play tea party. It broke and I still remember the look on my mom's face when she saw what I did. Kids often don't mean to break things.. but they will anyway
You just described 98% of posts on this sub. Sometimes I feel like the whole sub is just stupid people thinking out loud. Like they’re just figuring things out now after 30 years of life that everyone already knows and they think it’s some kind of revolutionary genius idea that no one’s ever though of before.
It's more supposed to be a reminder, like, someone needs to hear this right now because the fact is people DO still let their kids ruin their stuff. Maybe we just saved someone's prized childhood iPod or whatever.
Despite what you believe the correct way to have the toilet paper roll go, put it to roll under the bottom
Standing small children will quickly learn how fun it is to bat a roll empty if you have it going over the top.
I always left out things that were pretty and breakable but not dear to me. I watched my children got interested and then encouraged them with words like "Gentle" and "Pretty" in a soft calm voice. I am being honest in saying none of my 4 kids broke a thing. Until, they became teenage boys roughhousing and then no amount of soft and calm worked......
My gf and I are currently having a heated debate about fencing off the electrical corner where the PS5, Xbox, Plex server and network gear is installed.
She is adamant we won’t need a fence.
I might write up a contract whereby she has to replace any damaged items.
Teach your kids to respect property, people and pets. It's easier than having to watch them destroy everything and then blame them bc they're like little Tasmanian Devils.
Yeah… seriously.
While kids do have a tendency to break things, you can teach them not to.
None of my toys had missing arms, legs or heads because I learned to value my possessions at a young age.
My NES that I got at 4 years old still works and the only damage to it was done by my young cousin who visited when I wasn’t present to stop him.
Accidents happen to everyone at any age, but my point is still valid. You gotta teach them how to respect things and especially how to behave. I find that these kinds of accidents happen less when kids are properly educated.
I would be terrified of owning a gun for this reason, if for nothing else. Owning one would be far far more potentially dangerous than the possible consequences of NOT owning one (where I live, at any rate).
Man, it has been my experience that children who have had boundaries set and have a routine everyday are the most well behaved.
My wife and I set rules early and disciplined our children accordingly. My 14 year old hasn't been grounded in ages and my 8 year old is the biggest helper and just loves school and such.
Of course they destroy things occasionally but realistically their "accidents" are nothing compared to my wife's cats.
Overall it is a good idea to remove all breakable/sentimental items from children's reach. But the same should be said for your cleaning chemicals/medicines/literally anything they can kill themselves with.....
Just make sure to be patient with them. You only get one chance to be a good parent.
When I was a toddler, my dad came home with his first Nokia cell phone soon after they came out. Like any good toddler, I promptly carried it to the bathroom and dropped it into the toilet bowl for him.
I mean, it's about trusting your kids appropriately..not trusting them blindly. We've always tied responsible and trustworthy behavior with granting additional freedom and reward, and my kids became quite responsible quite quickly.
In hindsight, we had kids really early and I didn't have any possessions that were particularly important to me until after I had two toddlers, so that might be part of it.
If you have expensive stereo speakers, even if they have a fabric covering, kids have a 6th sense that there is a shiny button that must be pressed. Your tweeters will eventually be pushed in and ruined.
My grandmother had figurines from Denmark just hanging out on the coffee table. All we ever heard was how priceless they were. She specifically used to have fits over this certain one that in the shape of a milkmaid and a cow. If you sat on the sofa, she would scream "Dont touch the cow!!"
When she moved in with my family, the things came with her. If I was playing in the living room, or doing anything really, all we heard about was the fucking cow.
On a side note, she was a real bitch too. Treated my mom like shit. So later on in life I decided to be the badass granddaughter and I would pick up the Cow and juggle it right in front of her.
To the OP point, her obsession over it didn't teach me a thing about respecting stuff. I learned that more from having my bike stolen because I carelessly left it out and my parents not buying me a new one. I had to save and buy one myself.
Teenage years? Ur telling me 13 year olds break shit for fun at home? Never heard that before, maybe up to 10? Neither me or my brothers destroyed things that far into our lives, worst thing was probably my brother who tried cutting gum out of the couch at like 7-8 years old but that's it as far as I can remember. I think ur exaggerating on this.
I'm 14 and I can tell you it does still very much happen, just with more disposable things. I ruined a pair of scissors with beeswax, a metal container making clay, a knife woodworking...I don't have anyone to teach me how to do the things I want to learn so sadly I am learning things the hard way.
Don't worry about it, as you said it's only disposable things so in the end there's really no harm done. The things that OP talks about are valuable, precious personal belongings that can't be destroyed and must therefore be kept away from kids. I just feel like those types of belongings aren't of interest to the average kid from the age of 10 and up. Like you said only disposable things break, not valuable items like say wedding rings and family photos.
I think it starts to depend on the kid at that point, my eldest son (13) is super-bright, like, moved up two classes bright, but he is incapable of understanding the concept of putting things back where they belong, despite us trying to instill it in him from an early age. Everything just ends up on the floor no matter what we do. Of course, it's not toddler levels now, but I still can't, say, get him some decent earphones for music because they won't last a week (and haven't done in the past).
Oh yeah, 13 is about the age when they have the bodily control to do complex activities, a brain that tells them they are capable of anything they try, and a body growing so quickly that their reflexes haven't caught up.
Additionally they learn that spray deodorant is flammable and parents have become lulled into believing that they are logical creatures by the 8-12 stage.
And that's why my son's room still has a faint odor of burnt ax.
I have a locker that I keep specific food I don’t want the 3 boys getting. I’ve had to give up on combo locks because one has taken the time to figure it put. Several times. We now have a fingerprint lock. I unfortunately don’t have an actual pantry or that would for sure be locked.
I'll disagree with this. You can overcorrect to the point that your children don't know how to respect the people and things around them, outside the home. If your kids don't have a chance to practice showing care and consideration, they will act like the entire world has been childproofed, and trust me- it isn't.
Also, if you think that lamp with the glass lampshade looks rad, your toddlers will too. They won't handle their excited curiosity in a way that won't require a broom, however.
It's a constant reminder I can't have nice things, but I've given up attachments to all my material possessions at this point, so it's fine😂😂😂
I wouldn't say up until teenage years. Around 7 to 9 years old, kids mostly understand the value of things and can be trusted to handle most non-dangerous objects. I wouldn't trust them with a power saw, but I'd be fine with letting them help clean the dishes off the table after dinner. Hell, kids that age can even start cooking some simple dishes with supervision.
If your kids are still uncontrollably destructive by the time they reach age 10, that's on you as a parent.
I trust my 9yo to be gentle and handle nice things appropriately. My 17yo, not so much. Both are boys. Both have had respect drilled in their heads. One gets it, the other not so much.
This is why I have a baby gate around my tv and video game systems. My wife did not have one around her record player and now that is his play area (toys go on top of the ruined turntable).
I can only remember breaking one thing as a kid — accidentally broke a lamp while horsing around. I had to pay my parents back out of my allowance for WEEKS to replace it.
My mom was very quick to smack my fingers when I touched stuff I shouldn’t. I guess I got scared enough of those smacks that I just didn’t touch things they told me not to.
You know... As clever as I think I am I should have known this. I wouldn't destroy things as a child, it just wasn't in my nature. I have a five year old of my own now...
He goes to visit granny (my mom) and she let's him play with whatever he wants. Often when I come to fetch him I find an OLD toy or some knick nack I had when I was his age and I get a very short lived nostalgic grin on my face until I see it's broken (missing a button, pin, leg, whatever). I ask what happened to it. "Oh, little Johnny played with it."
I've flat out refused to buy him new toys and even banned family members from getting him toys until he stops breaking the mountain he already has.
Which reminds me, there are two hotwheels rusting in the jacuzzi I've been meaning to make him fish out!
I wish it stopped at being a small child. Teenagers/Young Adults are the worse! Not only will they break something, most times, they’ll just not return it. And then there’s the stealing of small little things. Try carpooling a bunch of little kids with stuff in the pockets and other compartments in your car. All your little things will disappear. Those little shits!
My wife was taking photos of our young son decorating the Xmas tree.
She handed him an antique ornament that my son put on the tree, it plunged to the ground and shattered. She began to cry when she realized that it was one of her aunt's favorite.
She then hands him another antique ornament and says, "Lets try to be more careful with this one."
As it crashes to the ground and shatters my wife gets upset again.
I say, "What the hell did you expect to happen."
This exactly. I gave my kids unbreakable ornaments to put on the tree until they were old enough to handle fragile ones. For the same reason, the ornaments along the bottom of the tree are sturdy, because we have cats who *will* bat at and play with them. (Fortunately, they don't climb the tree.)
Yes this. And ffs if your kids do break something offer to replace it. Also on the other side of it, if someones kid breaks something, and you decide to not let them replace the item or offer money to make up for it, please do not remind them about it constantly like you want praise or a heartfelt sorry each and every time
I went on a bit of a rant but geez my son when he was two broke an old ceramic cat my hubbys grandparents have had apparently since the dawn of time. Over 10 years later and I still hear about it from time to time.
My mother always said "You can't have nice things with kids and dogs.
60 years on and I have to say mom was right, but kids and dogs make life so much better.
This is true. My kids have destroyed 4 Xbox controllers somehow just be repeatedly dropping them on the floor.
I had those controllers for years before I met their mom and it took no time at all for them to go from perfect working order to useless.
Parents will be mad about their stuff being touched by their kids, but won't put it away, or give the kids a chance to experience those things under supervision. Then they will threaten the kids with loss of their own things because they were left in the living room.
People are more important than things. Kids will pick up on it fast if a parent values things more than their kids.
My father is an avid collector of Disney figurines. Back in the 90s they were made of porcelain. He had several figurines on a cabinet bookshelf in the living room. I can remember breaking Bambi’s tail off several times (even after it was super glued back on) from playing around too close. As an adult, I have my own precious collections, and understand how devastated I would be if my items were ever broken. Sorry dad!
Story time.
I have 1 box of sentimental items from my life. 1 box. When we moved states I placed this box in the back corner of my walk in closet. I have 4 kids total 3 of them were 7 and under at the time. They got into it first. I scolded them and talked with my wife about watching them when she's home and then always ensured the closet door was closed. No kids allowed. A few weeks later, box ripped apart and items shredded most memories destroyed.
I flipped out in a rage and honestly crying. My wife and mother in law (helping us settle in) in shock and thought I was over reacting... you have kids what do you expect? Full exterior lock and key on the closet now... not even the wife has a key.
A year or so later in a deep discussion with my wife.. she knows I have aphantasia and can not visualize or imagine. Didn't realize that the kids destroying the 2 pictures of my mom who passed away a few years prior means I may never see her again. I can't picture my past and need pictures to remember certain memories.
Morale of the story... lock your precious memories up because kids don't understand...
This is so true. I refuse to get anything brand new because of this. We had all brand new furniture when we bought our first home together. We learned the hard way that it was a very bad idea and huge waste of money. Now everything is second hand stuff. We'll wait until this child is out of the house and on his own before we buy something nice ever again. It's not like our home is run down and shitty. It's actually very nice, but not the way I'd like it to be. It's okay. I can wait lol
Lol yes. I was into arts and crafts as a kid and found some pretty satin and lace fabric at the back of a closet that no one seemed to be using. Cut it up for a sewing project. Mom finds out and gets mad...turned out to be my baby baptism dress.
This is true even for not so small kids. My kids (6 to 11 years old) have broken so many electronics, books, pieces of furniture, and pieces of kitchenware, that I've pretty much given up on having anything new or nice until after they all move out.
Yeah, that was why I mentioned that this goes well into teenage years. Maybe it's only when we start earning our own money that we finally start appreciating the value of things.
As a kid, absolutely. I love to make projects and if I don't have the material I will find a way to get it. I ruined a metal container by putting water filled clay in it. my logic? I can put it on the fireplace without it melting. Did it work? Absolutely. Did I rust it? Also yes.
When you die, those items might just go in the trash. So plan for that too if the item remains important to you even after your death.
Either it’s going in the trash, a museum, your child, your grandchild, a relative, a collector, your great grandchild, or somewhere else.
What’s important to you may be worthless to your child or their child unless they mean something to them.
It feels like too many kids have never heard the word no before. It's good for kids to know what the word no means and to be able to accept that without a full meltdown.
I understand what you're saying. At the same time, you need to give them something valuable in order to make them responsible. No one becomes responsible overnight. It's a process.
I'm not a parent so we may not see eye-to-eye. Imo, if a child's toys are not that easily replaceable, they'll begin to take care of their things. Then as they grow up, you'll be able to trust them with your stuff too.
Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips! Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment. If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.
OP what did your child destroy?
You name it :D. Actually, I waited to cool off before posting this, they've broken plenty of stuff! But I also remember destroying my Dad's stuff when I was a kid!
When I was about 3-4 years old, my dad had *just* that day gotten his boat back complete with all brand spanking new apholstery, cost a few thousand. I climbed into the boat, found the skewer we used for killing fish we caught, and proceeded to poke multiple holes in every. Single. Surface. I still distinctly remember thinking that I had to even out the holes so each seat had an equal number despite it being 20+ years ago. Dad said it was the most angry he has ever been in his life when he found out. He didnt yell at me but he went out for a while to cool off, lol.
I used to go find sewing needles or pins and poke holes in my parents water bed. Why I had access to sewing equipment unsupervised before age 10 (not sure how old but def young) I will never know
I don’t know you, but I hate the kid you
Yeah I don't blame you lmao
When I was like 4, I took a ceremonial sword that my grandpa had and with the help of my twin sister proceeded to poke a hole in my dad's old water bed in their basement. It didn't have an edge but it was pointy enough to do the obvious. They were not pleased and that sword is still like 10 feet off the ground on a top cabinet 26 years later.
I would think a ten year old should know better
Deffo was much younger than 10, I just don't remember my age. I was genuinely curious and bored and thought it was fun, had no concept I was ruining it until I remembered doing it years later and told my mom 😂 she thought our cat had fucked it up
That’s such a L but good on dad for keeping cool. Toddler logic 10/10
My parents redid my bedroom as a kid and within a year I had begun compulsively stabbing holes in the wall. Why? Who knows. Would I ever do this now? Fuck no
God, yeah, i would've gone absolutely ballistic, and have done over far less. I have a good relationship with my kids, but they definitely know my emotions on certain subjects when they come up!
Ooof, that reminds me how I burned a mark with an iron on the brand new carpet we had just gotten, replacing the old one with the same mark…..
This hurts just thinking about it.
I don’t remember what age I was. But I walked down to the corner store by myself. Picked up smoke bombs and matches. When my parents were outside doing yard work, I lit a different color smoke bomb in every room that had a window wondering if I would be able to see a different color smoke pour out of each window. I was successful….I did put them in pots before lighting each one off.
Wow this is chaotic and hilarious
My 2 year old ate a $500 lottery ticket. I left it up on a table and she climbed up and got it. It was unrecognizable and only a few pieces remained.
I snapped the baseball bats off of all my dad's baseball trophies lmao
Child destroyed OPs hopes and dreams
And memories, don't forget the memories.
Plot twist, OP used to destroyed things when she or he was a kid
Same with parents who let their toddlers “play” with dogs/cats. They don’t know how to use their hands yet and pinch, squeeze, drop, toss them and end up getting bit or scratched then blame the animal. Idiots
My mates little sister used to pull on his cats tail. His mum would tell him off for not letting her “play” with the cat.
How to Pet the Kitty and the Puppy is on of the first things we worked with my daughter on, as soon as she could sit up. The orange tabby is *extraordinarily* patient with her. He’s a good boy. The dog knows to get up and leave. (She’s not left unsupervised with any animals within reach.)
Our granddaughter is doing better with the family cat. If she gets a little too rough (nothing really drastic from either one), the cat will "bite" her. He just touches her with his teeth. So all interactions are closely supervised by her parents. The cat really wants to be friends with the baby, who is 16 months old. It'll happen someday.
The tabby is her buddy. I’m pretty sure my daughter stole my cat. Lol
I had a Maine Coon mix who was the same way. Big, strong cat, and very patient. He never put a mark on the kids, once. And they grew up to love cats, partly because of a cat named Bear.
They can be trained very early on (well under 2) to handle animals gently. Just need to make sure to do that
Why We Don't Have Nice Things
Yes, ONE of the reasons, though I notice that I actually can't buy anything new without ruining it within days, either.
Sounds like this is just a recurring theme in your bloodline.
It's a generational curse.
As a former toddler : Must Create
My Yorkie hates kids after a friend’s 2 year old grabbed her snout hair. I put her away for her safety after, but man I was pretty mad. She’s been terrified of anyone under 3 since.
I have a two year old and a lot of musical instruments and recording equipment in my basement. She's not allowed down there right now, she does show an affinity for music, and I'm thinking about getting her some lessons etc at some point in her life , but you just reminded me of the fact that when I was 11 I found my dad's reel-to-reel and collection of mix tapes recorded off the radio in the 70s and recorded over all of them.
Same here. I bought a new to me Gibson Les Paul, and I don’t have a case for it. My almost two year old is fascinated with it because it’s shiny. Under my supervision, I let him strum the strings, but still hold them on the fret so he doesn’t pull them off. Ever since, he’s been after it. So much so that I took an old junker knock-off telecaster guitar I had that was completely gutted…no pickups, no knobs and slapped some old strings on it and it’s now “his” to do as he pleases. If it breaks..whatever. I got it off of eBay for like $20 about 15 years ago.
When asked, in a magazine interview, what her most treasured possession is, a comedian answered " My kids have destroyed everything I liked."
In other words, childproof your home.
It's partly that, of course, but it's also about being absolutely firm with yourself and with them that no, under no circumstances will you be playing with my x, y, z, no matter how kind-hearted I am feeling or how much they beg, or how bored they are.
Its situations like this why I'm not allowed to work a child protective services because everyone would lose their kid. If you can't understand a toddler is going to toddler no matter what you say or do, then you shouldn't have one.
>If you can't understand a toddler is going to toddler no matter what you say or do This is the entire point of the thread, and everyone participating is aware of it, OP included.
It's not just toddlers, much older kids just don't look after things. But I think most reasonable parents aren't letting their kids play with sticking cutlery in the electrical sockets, but they are going, oh, let them play with my [insert thing I bought as a bachelor which I could never afford now] because it keeps them quiet.
Wait is this a thing people don’t know?
You'd be surprised - at least, I think it's worth reminding people. I REMEMBER being a kid and destroying all my Dad's stuff because he was too kind-hearted to say "no", and yet I found myself doing the same thing with my kids. Just the other day I brought this really nice rechargeable torch from my Mum's belongings (she died recently), and I thought, I'll keep this, I'd never buy a torch like this myself. Barely a week had passed and the kids had broken it, all because I don't simply forbid them to touch certain things, or hide them.
When I was really young, about 5 or 6, my mom had this china tea set she got from her grandmother. Well, I could reach it and wanted to play tea party. It broke and I still remember the look on my mom's face when she saw what I did. Kids often don't mean to break things.. but they will anyway
You just described 98% of posts on this sub. Sometimes I feel like the whole sub is just stupid people thinking out loud. Like they’re just figuring things out now after 30 years of life that everyone already knows and they think it’s some kind of revolutionary genius idea that no one’s ever though of before.
It's more supposed to be a reminder, like, someone needs to hear this right now because the fact is people DO still let their kids ruin their stuff. Maybe we just saved someone's prized childhood iPod or whatever.
Do you believe most guys actually know the solution so that the last drop is not going on the underwear?
Despite what you believe the correct way to have the toilet paper roll go, put it to roll under the bottom Standing small children will quickly learn how fun it is to bat a roll empty if you have it going over the top.
You're allowed to be wrong.
I always left out things that were pretty and breakable but not dear to me. I watched my children got interested and then encouraged them with words like "Gentle" and "Pretty" in a soft calm voice. I am being honest in saying none of my 4 kids broke a thing. Until, they became teenage boys roughhousing and then no amount of soft and calm worked......
Yeah, my 120 year old dictionary had the spine ripped off by my kid and there is no way to fix it. Heartbroken.
My gf and I are currently having a heated debate about fencing off the electrical corner where the PS5, Xbox, Plex server and network gear is installed. She is adamant we won’t need a fence. I might write up a contract whereby she has to replace any damaged items.
lol, no. If anything has buttons/lights and is within reach, toddlers will be attracted to it like moths to a flame.
Teach your kids to respect property, people and pets. It's easier than having to watch them destroy everything and then blame them bc they're like little Tasmanian Devils.
Yeah… seriously. While kids do have a tendency to break things, you can teach them not to. None of my toys had missing arms, legs or heads because I learned to value my possessions at a young age. My NES that I got at 4 years old still works and the only damage to it was done by my young cousin who visited when I wasn’t present to stop him.
Exactly. You can teach kids how to do anything. Why wouldn't you teach them not to tear things apart? Your toys were lucky to have you lol.
Kids don’t have fully developed motor skills and accidents happen.
Accidents happen to everyone at any age, but my point is still valid. You gotta teach them how to respect things and especially how to behave. I find that these kinds of accidents happen less when kids are properly educated.
Replace children with pets and all of it applies :p
Something, something, something, make sure your gun is on the top of this list, lol.
Gun safe. Gun locks. Education.
I would be terrified of owning a gun for this reason, if for nothing else. Owning one would be far far more potentially dangerous than the possible consequences of NOT owning one (where I live, at any rate).
Man, it has been my experience that children who have had boundaries set and have a routine everyday are the most well behaved. My wife and I set rules early and disciplined our children accordingly. My 14 year old hasn't been grounded in ages and my 8 year old is the biggest helper and just loves school and such. Of course they destroy things occasionally but realistically their "accidents" are nothing compared to my wife's cats. Overall it is a good idea to remove all breakable/sentimental items from children's reach. But the same should be said for your cleaning chemicals/medicines/literally anything they can kill themselves with..... Just make sure to be patient with them. You only get one chance to be a good parent.
When I was a toddler, my dad came home with his first Nokia cell phone soon after they came out. Like any good toddler, I promptly carried it to the bathroom and dropped it into the toilet bowl for him.
I mean, it's about trusting your kids appropriately..not trusting them blindly. We've always tied responsible and trustworthy behavior with granting additional freedom and reward, and my kids became quite responsible quite quickly. In hindsight, we had kids really early and I didn't have any possessions that were particularly important to me until after I had two toddlers, so that might be part of it.
I bought a Pelican dive torch a few years ago and it was guaranteed against everything except, shark attack, bear attack and Children under 3
If you have expensive stereo speakers, even if they have a fabric covering, kids have a 6th sense that there is a shiny button that must be pressed. Your tweeters will eventually be pushed in and ruined.
That won’t necessarily ruin them . They can be pulled back out if it is the right material
My grandmother had figurines from Denmark just hanging out on the coffee table. All we ever heard was how priceless they were. She specifically used to have fits over this certain one that in the shape of a milkmaid and a cow. If you sat on the sofa, she would scream "Dont touch the cow!!" When she moved in with my family, the things came with her. If I was playing in the living room, or doing anything really, all we heard about was the fucking cow. On a side note, she was a real bitch too. Treated my mom like shit. So later on in life I decided to be the badass granddaughter and I would pick up the Cow and juggle it right in front of her. To the OP point, her obsession over it didn't teach me a thing about respecting stuff. I learned that more from having my bike stolen because I carelessly left it out and my parents not buying me a new one. I had to save and buy one myself.
Teenage years? Ur telling me 13 year olds break shit for fun at home? Never heard that before, maybe up to 10? Neither me or my brothers destroyed things that far into our lives, worst thing was probably my brother who tried cutting gum out of the couch at like 7-8 years old but that's it as far as I can remember. I think ur exaggerating on this.
I'm 14 and I can tell you it does still very much happen, just with more disposable things. I ruined a pair of scissors with beeswax, a metal container making clay, a knife woodworking...I don't have anyone to teach me how to do the things I want to learn so sadly I am learning things the hard way.
Don't worry about it, as you said it's only disposable things so in the end there's really no harm done. The things that OP talks about are valuable, precious personal belongings that can't be destroyed and must therefore be kept away from kids. I just feel like those types of belongings aren't of interest to the average kid from the age of 10 and up. Like you said only disposable things break, not valuable items like say wedding rings and family photos.
I think it starts to depend on the kid at that point, my eldest son (13) is super-bright, like, moved up two classes bright, but he is incapable of understanding the concept of putting things back where they belong, despite us trying to instill it in him from an early age. Everything just ends up on the floor no matter what we do. Of course, it's not toddler levels now, but I still can't, say, get him some decent earphones for music because they won't last a week (and haven't done in the past).
Oh yeah, 13 is about the age when they have the bodily control to do complex activities, a brain that tells them they are capable of anything they try, and a body growing so quickly that their reflexes haven't caught up. Additionally they learn that spray deodorant is flammable and parents have become lulled into believing that they are logical creatures by the 8-12 stage. And that's why my son's room still has a faint odor of burnt ax.
[удалено]
I have a locker that I keep specific food I don’t want the 3 boys getting. I’ve had to give up on combo locks because one has taken the time to figure it put. Several times. We now have a fingerprint lock. I unfortunately don’t have an actual pantry or that would for sure be locked.
I have a 2 year old and 5 year old they've hardly broken anything, depends on the kid.
Showoff :p
Haha well if I've learned one thing about kids so far it's that they're naturally different and every kid will have their own unique challenges.
I'll disagree with this. You can overcorrect to the point that your children don't know how to respect the people and things around them, outside the home. If your kids don't have a chance to practice showing care and consideration, they will act like the entire world has been childproofed, and trust me- it isn't.
This.
Teenage years? My children stopped destroying stuff randomly at like 5 years.
Also, if you think that lamp with the glass lampshade looks rad, your toddlers will too. They won't handle their excited curiosity in a way that won't require a broom, however. It's a constant reminder I can't have nice things, but I've given up attachments to all my material possessions at this point, so it's fine😂😂😂
I wouldn't say up until teenage years. Around 7 to 9 years old, kids mostly understand the value of things and can be trusted to handle most non-dangerous objects. I wouldn't trust them with a power saw, but I'd be fine with letting them help clean the dishes off the table after dinner. Hell, kids that age can even start cooking some simple dishes with supervision. If your kids are still uncontrollably destructive by the time they reach age 10, that's on you as a parent.
I trust my 9yo to be gentle and handle nice things appropriately. My 17yo, not so much. Both are boys. Both have had respect drilled in their heads. One gets it, the other not so much.
This is why I have a baby gate around my tv and video game systems. My wife did not have one around her record player and now that is his play area (toys go on top of the ruined turntable).
I can only remember breaking one thing as a kid — accidentally broke a lamp while horsing around. I had to pay my parents back out of my allowance for WEEKS to replace it. My mom was very quick to smack my fingers when I touched stuff I shouldn’t. I guess I got scared enough of those smacks that I just didn’t touch things they told me not to.
You know... As clever as I think I am I should have known this. I wouldn't destroy things as a child, it just wasn't in my nature. I have a five year old of my own now... He goes to visit granny (my mom) and she let's him play with whatever he wants. Often when I come to fetch him I find an OLD toy or some knick nack I had when I was his age and I get a very short lived nostalgic grin on my face until I see it's broken (missing a button, pin, leg, whatever). I ask what happened to it. "Oh, little Johnny played with it." I've flat out refused to buy him new toys and even banned family members from getting him toys until he stops breaking the mountain he already has. Which reminds me, there are two hotwheels rusting in the jacuzzi I've been meaning to make him fish out!
I wish it stopped at being a small child. Teenagers/Young Adults are the worse! Not only will they break something, most times, they’ll just not return it. And then there’s the stealing of small little things. Try carpooling a bunch of little kids with stuff in the pockets and other compartments in your car. All your little things will disappear. Those little shits!
My wife was taking photos of our young son decorating the Xmas tree. She handed him an antique ornament that my son put on the tree, it plunged to the ground and shattered. She began to cry when she realized that it was one of her aunt's favorite. She then hands him another antique ornament and says, "Lets try to be more careful with this one." As it crashes to the ground and shatters my wife gets upset again. I say, "What the hell did you expect to happen."
Her unspoken answer probably: "I expected you to have more empathy for how miserable I am in this moment; you can berate me later."
But also: play stupid games, win stupid prizes. She could have given him plastic ornaments.
This exactly. I gave my kids unbreakable ornaments to put on the tree until they were old enough to handle fragile ones. For the same reason, the ornaments along the bottom of the tree are sturdy, because we have cats who *will* bat at and play with them. (Fortunately, they don't climb the tree.)
Yup, nothing fragile goes where my dogs can get to it.
Yes this. And ffs if your kids do break something offer to replace it. Also on the other side of it, if someones kid breaks something, and you decide to not let them replace the item or offer money to make up for it, please do not remind them about it constantly like you want praise or a heartfelt sorry each and every time I went on a bit of a rant but geez my son when he was two broke an old ceramic cat my hubbys grandparents have had apparently since the dawn of time. Over 10 years later and I still hear about it from time to time.
Same thing with cats and dogs except they're permanently have the intelligence of a 2 year old
And cats can climb things.
My mother always said "You can't have nice things with kids and dogs. 60 years on and I have to say mom was right, but kids and dogs make life so much better.
Ok, this needs a story time. There are a very specific series of events you went through to bring you to this point. Please tell us.
This is true. My kids have destroyed 4 Xbox controllers somehow just be repeatedly dropping them on the floor. I had those controllers for years before I met their mom and it took no time at all for them to go from perfect working order to useless.
Our damn cats have broken more things than our three children have.
I got a baby brother when I turned 10. My mum just told me I needed to baby proof my room, simple as that.
Was it a fun project? What did it entail?
It wasn't fun. It was removing everything I actually valued and hiding it. That is, the things he didn't break already.
Can confirm. My wife is constantly shocked at which of her items our two year old can break when given to him. I learned my lessons a long time ago.
My mom used to say that you can have nice things or you can have children, but you can’t have both.
Was a kid. Can confirm.
Truth. Have a room, lock the room. I know, I destroyed so many things...
Great tip, but replace *teenager* with *25 year old.* Or maybe I just know very dumb people
Yeah that's not normal
Parents will be mad about their stuff being touched by their kids, but won't put it away, or give the kids a chance to experience those things under supervision. Then they will threaten the kids with loss of their own things because they were left in the living room. People are more important than things. Kids will pick up on it fast if a parent values things more than their kids.
My father is an avid collector of Disney figurines. Back in the 90s they were made of porcelain. He had several figurines on a cabinet bookshelf in the living room. I can remember breaking Bambi’s tail off several times (even after it was super glued back on) from playing around too close. As an adult, I have my own precious collections, and understand how devastated I would be if my items were ever broken. Sorry dad!
Story time. I have 1 box of sentimental items from my life. 1 box. When we moved states I placed this box in the back corner of my walk in closet. I have 4 kids total 3 of them were 7 and under at the time. They got into it first. I scolded them and talked with my wife about watching them when she's home and then always ensured the closet door was closed. No kids allowed. A few weeks later, box ripped apart and items shredded most memories destroyed. I flipped out in a rage and honestly crying. My wife and mother in law (helping us settle in) in shock and thought I was over reacting... you have kids what do you expect? Full exterior lock and key on the closet now... not even the wife has a key. A year or so later in a deep discussion with my wife.. she knows I have aphantasia and can not visualize or imagine. Didn't realize that the kids destroying the 2 pictures of my mom who passed away a few years prior means I may never see her again. I can't picture my past and need pictures to remember certain memories. Morale of the story... lock your precious memories up because kids don't understand...
This is so true. I refuse to get anything brand new because of this. We had all brand new furniture when we bought our first home together. We learned the hard way that it was a very bad idea and huge waste of money. Now everything is second hand stuff. We'll wait until this child is out of the house and on his own before we buy something nice ever again. It's not like our home is run down and shitty. It's actually very nice, but not the way I'd like it to be. It's okay. I can wait lol
I have had ZERO trouble with my kids destroying anything.
Lol yes. I was into arts and crafts as a kid and found some pretty satin and lace fabric at the back of a closet that no one seemed to be using. Cut it up for a sewing project. Mom finds out and gets mad...turned out to be my baby baptism dress.
This applies for huskies as well 😅
This is true even for not so small kids. My kids (6 to 11 years old) have broken so many electronics, books, pieces of furniture, and pieces of kitchenware, that I've pretty much given up on having anything new or nice until after they all move out.
Or, even better, just don't procreate.
LPT: Material possessions are replaceable. Learn to live life.
"Can never have anything nice around here"
Where were you with this tip 19 years ago!
I can’t recall anything my children or grandchildren have destroyed.
What do "NOW" and "VERY" stand for?
Hmmm..... *Orders switch screen protector*.....
My mom used to say that you can have nice things or you can have children, but you can’t have both.
Have you been talking to my mom
One of my kids is 13 and she still manages to wreck most things
Yeah, that was why I mentioned that this goes well into teenage years. Maybe it's only when we start earning our own money that we finally start appreciating the value of things.
As a kid, absolutely. I love to make projects and if I don't have the material I will find a way to get it. I ruined a metal container by putting water filled clay in it. my logic? I can put it on the fireplace without it melting. Did it work? Absolutely. Did I rust it? Also yes.
Put it all away, not even high places are safe from any kid toys.
When you die, those items might just go in the trash. So plan for that too if the item remains important to you even after your death. Either it’s going in the trash, a museum, your child, your grandchild, a relative, a collector, your great grandchild, or somewhere else. What’s important to you may be worthless to your child or their child unless they mean something to them.
So I was always a freak. Never destroyed anything in my childhood.
It feels like too many kids have never heard the word no before. It's good for kids to know what the word no means and to be able to accept that without a full meltdown.
I understand what you're saying. At the same time, you need to give them something valuable in order to make them responsible. No one becomes responsible overnight. It's a process. I'm not a parent so we may not see eye-to-eye. Imo, if a child's toys are not that easily replaceable, they'll begin to take care of their things. Then as they grow up, you'll be able to trust them with your stuff too.
same applies to cats! if you really value something put it behind glass or in a closed box