i HAVE 16 MONTH BABY GIRL, WHO IS VERY WILLFUL AND WILL TRY ANYTHING TO GET HER OWN WAY, AND SEE HOW FAR SHE CAN PUSH YOU. SHE HAS STARTED TO CLIMB ONTO THE SOFA AND THEN ON THE WINDOW LEDGE, THEN ON TO THE SIDEBOARD. aLSO SHE WILL CLIMB ON THE FIREGUARD AND WALK ACROSS IT. ONCE UP SHE THEN STARTS TO YTHROW THE ORAMENTS, SMASH THE ORAMENTS AND BREAK THE FLOWERS ON THE WINDOW LEDGE.
IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU SHOUT OR TAKE HER OFF, WE HAVE EVEN GIVEN HER A GENTLY SMACK TO TRY AND TEACH HER AND THIS DOES NOT WORK, WE HAVE EVEN TRY PUTTING HER IN THE HALL AS A PUNISHMENT BUT SHE JUST PLAYED WITH THE SHOE RACK, SO THAT WAS NOT PUNISHMENT. PLEASE JO CAN YOU HELP ME I REALLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.

Hi, i would get down to her level so you are at face level with her and then tell her that what she was doing was dangerous in a very firm way

She is only 16 months!! This is her way of exploring the world around her.....she does not know any better and to be honest shouting and smacking her or putting her in the hall will not help....it is all negative attention and she will just carry on. Most kids go through this kind of exploration and all you can do is to keep your eye on them and to distract them with other things. It is hard work following them about all day but she is still a baby!

It's not easy but if you can distract her with toys etc then this may help. Also, is she happy to go out to the park, where there are things she can climb on? If you are there with her and watching her then you can say that it is ok to climb in the park with mummy but at home its not ok as it is dangerous......hopefully taking her to the park will burn off some energy and she will be less inclined to climb when she is at home!!

She is still a very young child and her cognitive ability to think through her actions and consequences is still extremely limited. That part of her brain is only just starting to develop.

Smacking, shouting and putting her in the hall will only make her feel bad and abandoned, and she will not be able to logically understand what is wrong, let alone what she may have done to cause such a reaction.

A firm, but warm, consistent ‘no’ and taking her out of the dangerous situation and then using more positive means of engaging her attention and fulfilling her need to explore and occupy her time, such as play, toys, games, music, dancing, walks to the park etc before she needs to stimulate herself through activities which she is not aware are dangerous will probably help your relationship with her before it spirals into a pattern of negative interaction.

With warm, positive and consistent responses and interaction from you and your partner, and clear holding, boundaries to ensure her safety, this will help you establish a strong bond with her and later mutual understanding and respect.

When she is old enough to understand you can explain that your ‘no’ means no and its to ensure her safety and she will gradually start to understand and act on it.

Remember that her brain is still developing..