My son is 13 months, but you would think he was already two because…the tantrums have begun.
He zooms up to my computer and bangs on the keyboard with his little hands which are surprisingly strong. I quickly run up to him, remove him from the situation and place him in front of a zillion baby-friendly toys as an alternative. He freaks out. He screams at the top of his lungs, he wails; tears streaming down his face. Did I mention that he is only 13 months old?
The most frustrating aspect of this situation is that he is still a non-verbal being. My son does not yet use words to express himself. Instead he reacts by screaming, crying, screeching and babbling. Houston we have a problem! I cannot communicate with my child!
Needless to say I’ve been at my wits end for the last couple of weeks. I’ve solicited the advice of many veteran mothers to combat the issue. Below are some of the pearls of wisdom they have offered:
1. Get him a toy computer. Clearly he is interested in the computer for a reason, give him a computer to play with that is all his own.
My response: A great idea, but I don’t have the funds right now.
2. Give him an old keyboard to play with.
My response: It works…for a little bit. But…he still goes for my computer eventually.
3. Remove him from the computer, sit him in a safe place and let him cry until he is ready to be civil again.
My response: Baaaa! I can’t take the screaming! I’m going bananas!
3. Distraction, distraction, distraction! Give him something else to play with. He will eventually forget about your computer.
My response: Maybe…for a minute…nah! The computer is still more interesting than anything else I could offer him.
If it’s this bad now, what happens when he actually hits the “terrible twos?” Any advice, folks?