How to teach her to be still?

Question

I have a 2y/o daughter who is so bright and wimsical but refuses to sit still for more than 2 minutes while i try to teach her something.
She learned her alphabet through play and song. She learned to say 1-5 playing finger rhymes.
For christmas her great grandparent's and uncles all pitched in to buy her a My First Leap Pad. It's pink and so cute and they bought about 9 pads to go with it. I've tried several times to sit with her and get her started but she cries and stomps because she wants to chew the pen/book or throw it around. So i put it up in the cupboard but i want to get her started to get her vocabulary going more. But i can not for the life of me, get her to sit still for reading, drawing or phonics any longer than 2 minutes.
I'm patient and tell her to calm down this is what we have to do etc and i've let her explore on her own only to have some things/activities broke - is there any way of calming her down during these times and get her to listen firmly?

Answer 1

I have an "almost" four year old that reminds me alot of your little one. I found myself asking that question alot when he started to walk. I have come to the conclusion I need to relax and let him learn the way he enjoys. 2 year olds have a hard time paying attention to even the most interesting things at that age, 2 minutes seems about right for her. You are doing the right thing by singing songs, games, and rhymes. As she gets older she will be able to sit for longer periods and you will see her improve. Don't worry so much about how long she sits to go over flash cards and activity books, in three years she will be expected to sit more than a couple hours a day at a small desk while a teacher tries to encourage 15+ students to work on the same thing!
Let her learn through play and hands on activities. I feel that children like ours that have this kind of energy are destined to become something great. Give her the chance to do it her way! Best luck to you!

Answer 2

she is normal. invent non-still games to teach her.
things you can teacher her without the requirement to sit still.
put up a markerboard...she can draw without sitting still...
make phonics games around the house..post the things on
the wall or put them around the living room. teaching her
does not require that she sit still. get creative. and make the learning a game, not like you lecturing her.

Answer 3

it seems that this active little girl may benefit from learning meditation if she is so active get her to visualize. Tell her a story and stop the story if she gets up her chair. helping her gain self control now is a great skill.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Try teaching her this wonderful,thing called time out.Since shes only 2yr old,give her no more then two min in time out.Make sure your there participating in time out as well so shell understand it.Try it if shes as bright as you say she is shell understand to be still once, shes LEARNED THE MEANING TIME OUT!!!!!

Answer 5

she's normal. catch her at times like before she takes her nap or when she is a litlle tired. or make it a part of the bedtime ritual. she'll be a little tired and still since it is nigh-nigh time.

Answer 6

promise to treat her (a trip to Mc donaldss or something) if you get through one book.

if this works
continue treating her little by little as she progresses.