Toddler Talk

[lathany]

Today's Parent and Toddler group was the venue for Ryan's first sentence. In response to the question "What do you want?" he replied "I want some orange."

He also made a complete exhibition of himself in Tesco. To the point that bateleur had to carry him out (screaming) and then home. The further away from Tesco (and Mummy) he got, the louder he screamed. Until, that is, he was being carried up the stairs. Still furious he started shouting "Music! Music!" between screams. He got what he wanted (bateleur played him music in the computer room) and then he retired quietly to his own room to play with his toys.

Music soothes the screaming hippo. Or something like that.

Comments

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

More sobbing than shouting, really.

And yes: P.W.E.I. soothes the savage hippo.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alanna/]

Does anyone else find it worrying that someone can carry off a screaming child seemingly without causing any concern?

My family had something similar when my sister was younger. She was having a tantrum in the supermarket, so my Dad (in a similar way to Bateleur) picked her up and carried her outside. All the way she was crying and screaming "I want my Mummy". No-one said a word or queried my Dad about it at all :/

(I should probably clarify that this isn't a criticism of Bateleur! But I've heard a number of stories like this, and it always surprises me... although to be fair, I'm not really sure that I'd say anything in a situation like that either :/)

[cardinalsin.livejournal.com]

What's the alternative?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alanna/]

Yeah I know. I'm not really sure if I'd do anything different.

[onebyone.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, if lathany had been screaming "I want my toddler", she probably would have got all the attention and assistance she needed.

The thing is that small children are not even slightly trustworthy sources of information. In particular, if a small kid is with an adult, then it takes a lot to accept the kid's word over the adult's, or to do other than assume that the adult really is responsible for the kid.

The benefit of this behaviour is that a kid can't shut down a supermarket just by throwing a strop and forcing their parent to justify what's going on to everyone nearby and then every single person they meet on the way home. The cost is that some small proportion of kidnappings will succeed where they would otherwise fail. So no, I'm not terribly worried because the trade-off is probably worth it.

[lathany.livejournal.com]

lathany is, sadly, a little more likely to scream:

"No, not the toddler! Anything but the toddler!"

[cardinalsin.livejournal.com]

This is clear indication of the underlying malevolence and cunning of beebs. See, while showing all the signs of uncontrolled distress, Ryan gave a clear, controlled indication of what he actually wanted. At the same time, he made it clear that he would continue to be a git until given what he wanted.

[wimble.livejournal.com]

I wonder where he gets that from...

[cardinalsin.livejournal.com]

Empirical method?

[cardinalsin.livejournal.com]

PS Hurray for the first sentence! I think this proves what we've said all along, i.e. that Ryan has full command of english but can't be bothered to use it.

[lathany.livejournal.com]

that Ryan has full command of english but can't be bothered to use it.

I don't know about "can't be bothered". I'm more inclined to regard it as an instance of your "underlying malevolence and cunning" from above.

[narenek.livejournal.com]

Would it be worthwhile carrying a portable music device of some variety (iPod Shuffle for the terminally hip, old walkman for those wanting something slightly more childproof) to deploy at a moments notice?

Or do toddlers require the familiarity of home as well as distracting music to stop them crying?