dumping cheerios

ladylisalt

Lately LO has dumped a small container of Cheerios on the floor.I let him have them in the living room. Not so sure its intentional or not but I am looking for advice with this. He is 22 mos. and I try to have him pick them up. He looks like he is going to attempt it, sometimes even putting a few in the container, but then often dumping them back out. Seems more playful.

I usually do all meals and try snacks in the highchair ,but for awhile now he has been fine have crackers or cheerios in a container on the go. Not sure if I should take it away or work more on having him pick it up. Do you think he is still a little young to follow through completely?

I made a big deal of it the first time and realized he wasnt going to do it. I am trying not to get worked up and hope eventually he will pick up what he spills. Afterall, when I ask him to throw something in the garbage, he generally does.

BeachM

My LO did this for awhile right around the time he turned 2 and he most definitely understood what "don't dump your O's on the floor" meant.  I did timeouts for them (1 minute in our timeout stop) and then had him help me pick them up.  That stopped it really fast. 

I wasn't punishing accidental spills.  It was the "and what are you going to do about this?" raised eyebrow look he'd give me while he slowly turned the bowl upside down.

pitterpatter129

flip_flops:

My LO did this for awhile right around the time he turned 2 and he most definitely understood what "don't dump your O's on the floor" meant.  I did timeouts for them (1 minute in our timeout stop) and then had him help me pick them up.  That stopped it really fast. 

I wasn't punishing accidental spills.  It was the "and what are you going to do about this?" raised eyebrow look he'd give me while he slowly turned the bowl upside down.

Yep!  Mine took it a step further by taking his little foot and crushing them into the carpet while staring me down! 

 

ncbelle

I'd have him help you pick it up (since at his age it will take ages for him to do it all on his own).  And I'd keep snacks in his chair - prevent the problem and it's not a problem

 Kids love to dump - in his mind, it's not being "bad" but doing something that's "cool" - give him something appropriate to dump/pick up that doesn't involve a food mess for you.