Sudden random naughtiness

[FrannyandZooey]

Ds has (almost) always been extremely responsible and predictable. You could trust him to be sensible and know the rules about what was and wasn't allowed. Now it seems in the last 3 weeks he has suddenly gone a bit loopy and does unpredictable things which take me completely by surprise. A few examples:

He glued some paper bits on the wall "because I wanted to make the house look pretty" :)

He went on a scissor rampage and cut various things he really should have known better not to cut.

And yesterday, while playing upstairs at a friends' house, he got a spray bottle, filled it with extremely hot water, got the lid back on and squirted it not only all over the bathroom but in the bedrooms as well

I don't think he did any of this knowing it was wrong, which is what surprises me, he normally knows exactly what is and isn't allowed. I have struggled to explain things like why it is ok to make a beautiful sticking picture on paper but not on the walls, so maybe it is harder than I think for him to understand.

He is nearly 3. I know this sort of behaviour is very mild and par for the course with this age group, but I just wondered what had brought it on so suddenly? Do you think he needs more attention and guidance from me? (spot the guilty Mumsnetter ) Do you think he is just getting more confident and not scared to experiment and be 'naughty'? Or what? He is also very tired at the moment, don't know if that is relevant.

Sorry this is rather long and a bit trivial.

[FrannyandZooey]

Any ideas?

[CatBert]

I guess I would say that if he ahd never done any of these things before - he wouldn't know that they are naughty.

If you turn sideways, and squint just a little, you could actually say all these things are really rather clever... It's about context in a "civilised" environment that turn them from "adept with scissors", "excellent fine motor control in the turning on of taps, and filling and replacing squirty bottle cap, and actually squirting it too" to "naughty behaviour".

All you can do really, is to remove all scissors from reach, unless you are sitting at the table, doing it together, hide any other objects of desire (sometimes cannot do this until you discover they ARE objects od desire!!) and keep explaining what you think is "acceptable" behaviour.

The squirty bottle will be heaps of fun when the weather gets warmer!!!

[FrannyandZooey]

Yes CatBert but I already knew he was bloody clever! :)

I didn't tell him he was naughty - just explained why we didn't do it, but as you say who knows what will be next.

[Elibean]

He does sound creative....early years interior design. I remember my brother doing exactly this kind of thing aged 3 or 4, and he IS a designer now.
I'd guess the same as you, he's probably just growing up another notch...certainly sounds as though he's experimenting with his environment, and with 'tools'!
I don't think its you not doing or giving enough.
Maybe also finding out whats 'mine', whats 'ours', whats 'ours', whats 'yours' etc? Another phase of testing boundaries and limits, and his own power?
DD is only 2.2, but when she has spurts in development I always seem to find myself needing to set clear, firm limits (so she gets safe) at the same time as providing her with more freedom/opportunity to flex her muscles. IYSWIM...sorry, bit sleepy, probably not putting it well!

And...I think tiredness is always relevent, even with adult behavour

[desperateSCOUSEwife]

agree with the limitations bit from elibean
he may be trying to see where the boundaries are

also he may think he is being helpful (have you recently discussed decorating or making changes around the place)

[nulnulcat]

i did worse as a toddler apparently after getting hold of scissors and giving all the dolls haircuts i moved onto little brothers hair (it still grows funny 30 odd years later!) then i cut fancy patterns into all my mums full lenght expensive curtains and then got my crayons and redesigned the newly decorated hall stairs and landing walls and it wasnt washable crayon!! and that was all in one afternoon. i grew up to be creative too so maybe just channel his talents elsewhere!

[FrannyandZooey]

Yes possibly not getting enough chances to do what he wants to do in an acceptable way. The sprayer thing - he has one which he is allowed to use in the garden, but it's broken and I have been promising to buy another one. He's never had to be told not to do it in the house because I've never allowed the sprayer IN the house! I guess finding one at his friend's was too good a chance to miss. I have taken the hint and gone to buy him another one, he is in the bath now playing with it :)

[festiveface]

no advice, sorry, but do sympathise as ds2 went upstairs and sprayed nearly a full bottle of Hugo boss perfume ( my xmas present) all over the bathroom..and he's 7!

i was just setting a trap mum, was the reply

[FrannyandZooey]

Oh no!

[PeachyClair]

Just trying new things I would have thought, the scissors things is probably just a new skill (cutting) and if he ahs seen somebody wallpapering, and I bet you spray stuff round the house don't you?


My bigger concern would be why he could access very hot water at a friends house.