Hellobee Boards

We say something along the lines of "No Sam, we don't chew on books. We READ nice books." While taking the book out of his mouth and then flipping through the pages to show him how to read nicely. DS usually goes right back to chewing on his book, we repeat once or twice more, and then we say "if you chew on the book again, Mommy is going to take it away." Then if he starts to chew on it again, we take it away and put it out of reach and say "See, now Mommy has to take away the book. You can have the book back later." And then the book is off limits for some random period - a few hours, or a day, or whatever.

We do this for basically everything that's removable and we stay consistent with it (i.e. the book chewing thing has been an ongoing battle for months). At this point, he understands when we say we are going to take it away and starts running away with his book. It hasn't stopped the behavior, but I think he's understanding the cause and effect. We take it away and he can't have it again until the next day. We have more of a problem with things we CAN'T take away, like the vertical blinds or curtains he likes to mess with, but we're doing more a redirection thing for that.

I tell her to stop because it will break and if it breaks, she will 1) not get a replacement and 2) I will not buy another of its kind again. Seems harsh, but I want her to understand that toys are a priveledge and therefore, she needs to take care of them.

I actually just took DD play kitchen away last night! It is small since she is only 13 months and she kept opening the oven door and using it as a ladder, it will topple over in her so I kept saying No, and closed the door....well....she gave me that sly look and did it again and again, I thought if your smart enough to know it isn't right, I'm going to have to show you no means no so I calmy told her no again and that is not safe and put it away, she got mad for a moment, but I felt like it was time!

Yes definitely - I will first explain why I don't want him to do that and politely ask him not to... if he continues I will warn him that I will take it away... if he still continues I will follow through.

I get your point about not being controlling and I will never comment at all if he's just using something in a different way to the norm, but being destructive in any way isn't cool with me. My one exception would be some kinds of craft materials... say if we're collaging and he decides to rip paper or shapes into smaller pieces then that's fine - I see that as part of his creative process!

@gingerbebe: Ha! This is our main problem, too (books)! LO doesn't really chew on anything else anymore at 17 months (other than her fingers lately) - why are board books so delicious to them?? She's gotten actual bites out of ours (but only 1 special book for some reason?)