https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:55:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818490 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 21:39:21 +0000 Ms.Mermaid 2818490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kid will sit still as long as she has a snack so we usually bring a snack cup to something where she has to sit. We go to stroller strides a lot and she chills in the stroller pretty happily for an hour, though I bring plenty of stuff for her to play with. It’s important for me to recognize the things I find fun, she doesn’t find fun, so stuff where we have to sit is just not that enjoyable for her, even if the subject matter is appealing. We went to Disney on Ice at 3y3m and she sat and was riveted for most of it, but my niece who is a year younger had a harder time. </p> <p>Do you enforce sitting for dinner at home? That might be a good place to work on sitting for longer periods of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818325 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 09:36:25 +0000 pachamama 2818325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just avoid anything that has my 27 month old sitting TBH! :shocked: I kinda think they are developmentally ready to sit for long. What they WILL do is sit/ semi-behave if they are surrounded by their peers doing it (like school or a library class). "modeling behavior" yadda yadda yadda </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818311 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 08:27:47 +0000 Iced Tea 2818311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted add that my preferred way of reducing the chaos when I take both kids in public is to wear the younger one. That way I can freely follow the older one when needed. The stroller is more stressful for me if the older one bolts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818309 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 08:25:07 +0000 Iced Tea 2818309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don’t feel bad about this at all. Sitting for stuff is not the norm at age 2! LO1 was on the calmer side at two, but I still thought people were nuts when they asked me about taking her to a movie. She’s 3 now, and I’m only beginning to think she might sit for one, though I bet she’s be scared by the noise level. </p> <p>Montessori helped my kiddo with focus as well, and if I use similar language to explain things at home and out, then I get some of that orderliness. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818299 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 07:45:28 +0000 renee0106 2818299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: He does sit still for watching a show on my phone, but that's about it.<br /> I think I definitely need to try more narrating with him, that's a great idea. He does very well when I explain to him the order of things (like we are going to eat breakfast, then go to Grandma and Papas) so I think just need to take that a step further and narrate more things for him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818288 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 05:51:26 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2818288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does he sit still for anything? Story time or watching a show. My son will sit still knowing that the payoff is a good one. He is patient while we use the remotes to put on Sesame Street. I showed him pictures of kids with helmets on before going to the store to buy one for him. He was as good as he could possibly be waiting and trying on a few. I narrate things often about what is going to happen so he knows the order of things and has to be patient for something he wants. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818230 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 14:29:42 +0000 SweetiePie 2818230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Normal. We took our son to his first “show” around 2 and it was a deeeeeesaster. Also right up his alley, the Gazillion Bubble Show. But he wanted to be on stage in the bubbles, wanted to take his picture in the giant bubble NOW, not after the show. Didn’t want to sit in the seat. Etc.<br /> Agree that we saw a huge improvement right around 3yo. We can now take him to any show that’s 1.5 hrs or less and he’s fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818228 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:43:51 +0000 gingerbebe 2818228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@renee0106: Yeah again, its age appropriate that your 2.5 year old wants to run around, but we definitely saw improvement this past year since he turned 3. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818227 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:37:37 +0000 renee0106 2818227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: That's good to hear. LO still struggles with Sunday School. They watch veggie tales for ten minutes at the end and the rest of the kids are all sitting there and I have yet to see my LO sit down and watch it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818226 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:35:45 +0000 gingerbebe 2818226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@renee0106: Routine really helps my kid, so a weekly story time or class where its the same place and same process/routine really works well for him. Not at first, but over time as he gets comfortable and its not as stimulating, he can relax and behave. Sunday school was like that - he was a mess at first, but now he just bounds in there and takes a seat and often leaves having finished the craft project and singing a song he would have had to sit through the teaching of. Its the newness that throws him off, so we just have to build in the routine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818221 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:25:52 +0000 renee0106 2818221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: That's a good idea. I did see an option for that but wasn't sure what it is. They do this event every year, so I will definitely look into that for next year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818220 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:25:02 +0000 renee0106 2818220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Yes I definitely think I went about the Monster truck rally all wrong. I thought he would just be excited when he saw it but I think it was definitely a case of over stimulation with him. I've never really seen him get over-stimulated until then, but I guess now I know! I am definitely going to start trying to work my way up to an event like that now that I know. Definitely a first time mom fail on my part! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818218 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:21:46 +0000 looch 2818218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@renee0106: If your son is really into Monster Jam, look into the pit party. It's the time before the show, where the trucks are all parked and the drivers are out. You can go and see the trucks, but you can't get inside or climb on them or anything, it might be a good entry into the experience. From what I know, you can't purchase just pit party tickets only, but I'd buy the cheapest seats possible and go to the pit party only. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818216 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:14:24 +0000 Foodnerd81 2818216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@renee0106: well if it makes you feel any better she still had massive tantrums over random things at 4.5 years old. It’s just she was able to sit for something she’s interested in early. I agree story times and things like that are great practice though. The peer pressure is there but also not really a big deal if he can’t sit through it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818214 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:11:35 +0000 gingerbebe 2818214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Uh, all that sounds normal. I would not expect my kids to sit still for more than like 5-10 minutes.</p> <p>I have two boys that are 20 months apart. Our eldest is 3.5 and our youngest is just shy of 2 years old. I MIGHT consider taking the kids somewhere in the open by myself at this point because DS1 can be verbally commanded a little bit more and can listen better, but with the 2 year old honeybadgering all over the place, its still a hot mess. </p> <p>If my kids were your kids' ages, I would never take them anywhere unless I could keep them in a double stroller, a shopping cart, or to a completely enclosed space where they could tear around in opposite directions without me having an anxiety attack that they were going to kill themselves. </p> <p>I also don't deal with crazy wild public tantrums well, so I just shut it down and leave if there's a problem, but that's just me.</p> <p>Just as an aside, I will say that DS1 tends to be my easily overstimulated child. He has a lot of nervous energy (like things are always humming in his little brain), so he likes to run and jump and yell and shout and sing and chatter because it lets out that energy. Super overwhelming outside stimulation often leads to a really dramatic response - either he completely shuts down and doesn't wan't to participate (he leans towards introversion) - or he flips out into a tantrum because he's trying to release the pent up emotions inside.</p> <p>Essentially, I've had to learn to pick the specific situations that will set him up for success. For instance, when DS1 was going through his cars/trucks phase, I made sure to point out all the firetrucks and buses and tractors we saw while driving. We still very frequently visit the train museum and the local Ag museum with all the tractors and wagons. The local bus depot is also nearby our house, so I would swing past it on the way home from daycare so he could see a big lot full of buses. We made sure to go to the local touch a truck event or meet a cop event because they had squad cars, ambulances, and firetrucks you could sit in and touch. </p> <p>BUT at 2.5 I would never have taken my particular child to a monster truck rally because I already know that the noise and people and sheer scale of those events would be overwhelming to him. Even now at 3.5 he's noted whenever he sees a motorcyle that he finds them too loud. So for our kid, if the goal was to attend a Monster Jam at some point, I would probably do something like let him watch some YouTube videos on my phone, then scale it up to a video on our TV, slowly increase the volume on the TV, and chat through the videos. I'd walk through the etiquette for the events and explain in advance what will happen, pretend the couch is the stadium seating, give him a treat that mimics what he might have at the event (like popcorn), etc. And then I'd ask him if he'd like to attend one of these things live and see what he thinks. </p> <p>For both of our kids, the most frequent place we will take them in public where they are expected to sit still is a restaurant. We usually start taking them out to eat around the time they can pinch finger foods and we literally do it to practice - both for them to learn to sit and be comfortable in a restaurant setting and for DH and I to assess. Our McDonald's and CFA with a play place is obviously great for kids, but in the last few years we've also figured out all the local places where we should and shouldn't eat with our kids and that makes picking restaurants to meet guests or family members at WAY easier and the experience much more pleasant for everyone involved. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818212 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:09:41 +0000 renee0106 2818212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: Sounds just like my LO. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818211 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:08:04 +0000 MrsADS 2818211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is 2y7m and can't sit at all. Well, he will sit at circle time at daycare (seems like peer pressure there - he does a lot of things there he won't do at home!). Otherwise, no way. We go to church most Sundays and my husband and I just take turns with him in the back because he runs. I can buy a few minutes with a snack or toys but not much. He is a super active kid and seems like he actively wants to do whatever I DON'T want him to do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818210 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:05:27 +0000 MrsBucky 2818210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@renee0106: definitely! I’d start with low expectations (5 minutes) and work your way up from there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818209 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:04:47 +0000 renee0106 2818209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I think some of my problem too is I'm comparing my kid to kids like yours that have been able to sit through things at a very young age. Just the other day my hairdresser asked if I've taken LO1 to a movie yet..? I was like no way, he's no where near ready. And she told me she took her daughter to a movie when she was 2 and she sat through the entire thing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818208 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:02:55 +0000 renee0106 2818208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Eminthevalley: That's very reassuring to hear. I think I was definitely aiming too high by taking him to the monster truck show thinking he would sit there when he's never sat through anything in his life!<br /> @MrsBucky: We do family meals but I started a horrible habit of letting him watch nursery rhyme videos on my phone while he eats. At the time he started asking for that I was in survival mode with a newborn and 15 month old at the same time, now it's a bad habit. That's a great idea to practice sitting at dinner time (without videos). He is in daycare full-time too and I know he doesn't watch videos there, so I know he's capable of doing it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818206 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 12:54:35 +0000 MrsBucky 2818206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have been taking my son to church every week since he was born. 1.5-2.5 was the worst, but at 3 we know he can’t sit the whole time, but can remain quiet and play in a smaller space with his cars. I do think the ability to focus/ concentrate is a skill kids have to learn and I attribute a lot of his focus to his montessori preschool. But I’d start trying to let him find something and work on it in shorter bursts- 10-15 minutes at first to build concentration. As for being able to sit, I’d say consistently finding a way to practice is key. Do you have any family meals? Can he sit through them? Things like that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818202 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 12:28:18 +0000 Eminthevalley 2818202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally normal. I have twin 5-year-old boys and am truly just starting to take them to things where they might have to sit for longer periods. I did story time every week from probably 8 months old until they started preschool at 3.5, and that really helped...but that was 30 minutes. I don't think it's realistic for kids that age to sit for a long time. I know some kids do, and great for them, but I don't think you should find it unusual that your kid won't sit through a monster truck rally. Things we go do with them, starting at your kiddo's age--children's museums where they can touch everything, parks, jumpy places, amusement parks with lots of kids' stuff. It's pretty natural for them to want to climb on stuff and try it out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818198 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 12:06:13 +0000 Foodnerd81 2818198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think at that age a lot of kids would have trouble sitting for long periods of time. I would try to start smaller- like something like going to a restaurant for a snack after he had just had a lot of time to run around. Work your way up to sitting for a longer time. </p> <p>That said, I don’t have a ton of personal experience because my daughter is roughly the opposite- she is often not a great listener, at all, but from really young she’s been able to sit at restaurants and we took her to a kid friendly nutcracker at 2.5- but she was an exception to be able to sit for more than half of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipssuggestions-to-teach-toddler-to-sit-at-things#post-2818174 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 10:36:41 +0000 renee0106 2818174@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO1 is 2.5 years old. He's the type of kid who is very active, rarely sits still and runs everywhere. He generally listens pretty well for a 2.5 year old, imo, but he does have his naughty moments as well.<br /> For reference I also have LO2 who is 16 months old.</p> <p>Basically I've avoided any event that required LO1 to sit down and behave since LO2 was born. My husband works retail shifts so I'm alone with both kids quite often and it's hard to manage them both at any sort of event.</p> <p>Well now that they're a little older and I'm coming out of the fog of having 2 kids under 2, I'm trying to take them to more events and it's not going well. LO1 does not want to sit anywhere and the few times I've tried so far it's ended in a meltdown. For example, last week I took just LO1 to a Monster Truck show and the second we got there he had a complete meltdown because he didn't want to sit there, he wanted to go drive the trucks (he's never gotten to "Drive" anything so I'm not sure where that even came from). This kid loves anything with trucks/equipment so I thought this was right up his alley. </p> <p>So my question is, does anyone have any tips or suggestions on how to help him? Or is this just normal behavior for a 2.5 year old and I should wait it out? I really want to be able to take him to things, especially things I know he loves, but I'm having a hard time getting him to just sit anywhere and just watch. </p> <p>Thanks for any suggestions/advice! </p>