Need Parental Advice

[bigred]

well the little one has figured out doors. I watched him do it 3 times this morning. he walked right upto the front door and opened it! now you'll forgive me for asking this about the second child, but we adopted our daughter when she was 3, she's going on 5 now... so I missed out on this stage of doing things.

 

anyhow I'm REALLY worried about him doing this. we've got some less than safe things in the neighborhood in colorado. First and foremost is the colorado river, bears, wolves, coyotes, cattle, horses, the woods to get lost in, and the occasional trucks driving thru this area.

 

 

so I need some method of stopping him from opening the door and wandering outside. I've already scolded him and punished him for it. but in hind sight that doesn't seem right. he watches everyone else open the door and leave the house as they please

[cchalogamer]

Humm maybe some locks placed higher up on the doors? bc well i assuem youve tried locking them

 

I really dont know, being 18 myself, i dotn know too much about kids that age either...there's always Ductape.

[LoArmistead]

Those little dollar store door alarms. When he opens one it will go off and scre him. Or what CC said...

[cchalogamer]

btw the use of tape is to imobalize the child, not the doors

[danyo64]

put a sign on the door that says "stop (name)".. seams a little wierd.. but it could work

[cchalogamer]

If the kid can read yet (some can around this age some figure it out in 4th grade....) That just might work....but i have the strange feeling it wont...

[danyo64]

you can sit down with him and basically tell him that he HAS to ask you before opening the door. if that doesnt work you could alwayz super glue the door shut ... or, just put something heavy in the way of the door so that the door wont open if he tries.

[Some_Guy_]

There are those annoying plastic covers for door knobs that will make it just spin in his hand. Couple that with a) having a talk with him about the door and what's outside, or if he doesn't understand, then b) give him a more stern talking to.

[fire_storm]

Child locks.

[bigred]

he's still a little shy of 2 now. and I have to be careful what I put on the door because his sister (who I can trust to listen) goes in and out of the door all day long.

[Nerm]

I am not a father so this is just an opinion. You could put one of those 3 or 4 inch door chains high up on the door so it only opens a little ways and since he is small he wouldn't be tall enough to reach it. That would probably be the best way, but you could also do the cheap alarm idea where the alarm sounds when he opens the door so that when he does open the door and go outside you know it so you can monitor and watch him to make sure he stays safe.

[cchalogamer]

http://home.nycap.rr.com/smallfamily/images/ductape.jpg

 

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