Do your kids destroy every nice thing you buy?

Question

I love my kids more than anything but man can they tear some stuff up! It is really starting to bother me. We can not buy anything nice! We just found holes in the back of our leather chairs. Is this just kids or are mine out of control? Please only real parents, no "hypothetical parents". Thanks

Answer 1

I'm a parent to a five year old and a ten month old. My five year old is actually a second cousin whom my first cousin practically abandoned. When he first came to live with us (3 years old) he was out of control. He ran the shots at his Grandma's house and it was really hard to handle.

We just took it one step at a time. I'm not saying that your children are out of control but they may be asking for attention. That was the key to my cousins behavioral problems. The more attention we gave him--even just 15 minutes of attention the longer he stayed well-behaved. We set expectations for him--adding responsibility even at that age. He was in charge of little things around the house to keep the house clean and helped out a lot.

If you really try hard to give these kids attention and include them in even the smallest of tasks you do then I'm sure they'd stop destroying things. Teach them now to take pride and care in the things that they have or else later on they'll be wrecking more expensive things!

Good Luck!

Answer 2

For the most part, my guys didn't really tear stuff up. When my oldest drew on the wall in his room, we worked together to clean the wall off and I think that showed him how hard it was so he didn't do it again and he kept his little bro on the straight and narrow. *lol*

My little guy (now 14) did take a star head screwdriver to my dining room table when he was 3. I heard this drumming noise and ran downstairs (I'd been in the bathroom for 2minutes) and there he was pounding the screwdriver into the wood with a huge smile on his face. I asked what he was doing and he turned up to me with the sweetest look and said "making your favorite stars for you mommy". I love stars and it still makes me happy to look at my "torn up" table.

I'm sorry about your leather chairs.. if it was my chair, I'd take my boys to the furniture store and find a similar chair and then take a small amount out of their allowance, reminding them each week for a month or so why it's being done. That way, they see consequences to their actions. If you're not giving an allowance, it's a great thing to do because when kids have some responsibility over money, they learn to respect the things it buys. Both of my kids have a lot of respect for the things we buy because they have been handling money since they were small. I always gave them the money to pay for things that were for them like ice cream and treats. When we'd go to a restaurant, we told them they could have whatever they liked up to a certain $ amount (it varied with the restaurant and we also stayed within that amount) and they'd spend a lot of time mulling over the menu to figure out what they could afford and how they could manage a meal AND dessert. That also helped make them very adventurous eaters because they were really checking out the menu.

Answer 3

My 3 yr old tears upp everything I buy, and I mean EVERYTHING. You would think we never discipline her the way she tears stuff up, but we are actually very strict parents. I've learned to keep anything I don't want destroyed up high or in mine and my husbands room. As for stuff like furniture. I buy the cheapest stuff I can get my hands on that looks decent because I know I'll be replacing that couch, table, etc sooner than I'd like.

Answer 4

My oldest got suspended from riding the bus because he tore holes in the seats.

My youngest (now 4) is better behaved.

Kids do what kids do. Buy cheap stuff until they can control themselves, or keep a closer eye on them in the mean time. Be sure to punish when you catch them doing something wrong, and to PRAISE THEM when you catch them doing something right!

Your kids are more important than any material object. Love them to the best of your ability and everything will be OK!

Answer 5

I have 3 children. They are 6, 4, and 3. They are well behaved children, but I also have this problem with my daughter. My sons rarely tear anything up. But, my daughter is very hyper and makes huge messes and tears stuff up. She drags stuff out all the time. Some kids are just like this. I know how you feel!

Answer 6

I have three kids and they were sometimes bad kids but they never once destroyed anything.I would not let them they respect our home they are all out of the house now all of them married with kids of there own and there kids don;t do any thing like that either so i have to say your kids need a good talking too and fast.

Answer 7

I do not have that problem with my kids. They are 2 1/2 year old twin boys. The worst i had happen was one of them grabbed an ornament off the tree and broke it. Your kids need to be taught what is ok behavior and what isnt. My kids break their own toys occasionally....but not purposely. It may be time to step up discipline a little. Good luck!

Answer 8

Mine have never destroyed stuff. I have a boy and a girl and never have they broken anything on purpose. If they are old enough to get pocket money take it all from them to pay for the things they break. Punish them severely( no hitting I mean timeouts, withdrawal of toys etc.) for this as it will only get worse if you don't deal with it

Answer 9

I think if you are wondering if your kids or out of control, then you may not be sure what having them in control means, and you should try some different approaches to raising your child...if you are firmer...and you find you are happier, then you know your answer...if you are laid back and miserable, then you know you need to change something.

I see nothing wrong with putting a little fear in your kids every now and than...kids need to be scared of authority...it will make them think twice before making decisions.

Answer 10

All kids like to get into lots of things but I think you should sit down and talk to them and let them know that you all dont want them messin with the new things that you all buy. If you all have a talk with them and they are still tearing up things I think its time for a spanking.