He's 20 months. He's mad. Went to a lovely singalong music group yesterday, he spent the entire time running around the back of the venue, occasionally stopping to pick up something and try and eat it. He snatches toys from other kids. He pinches, smacks and bites when he's tired (only me, except he has bitten other kids a few times). He is never still, he empties drawers, posts things behind radiators, throws things ALL DAY. He throws food. He rarely sits and plays with his toys, he'd rather be legging it round destroying/emptying/throwing things. He tantrums at least a few times a week.
He's always told a very firm "no" and put down when he's violent. He has started to lick now which I think is his way of trying not to bite when he wants to bite. I admit I let a lot of the throwing food/emptying drawers go otherwise I would be just constantly telling him off and I can't really see the harm except its just a bit destructive. I've childproofed the dangerous drawers and cupboards.
The only thing which keeps him quiet for any length if time is TV, which I admit we have started to rely on too much. We go out to park once a day and normally something else too so he gets out plenty, he naps once a day for 2 hours and sleeps 12 hours at night. Prob watches 90 mins of tv a day spread over the day.
Can I calm him down in any way? Get him to direct this boundless boundless energy towards something like his toys? Chill him out without TV and dummy? He seems so different to the other children in the NCT group, so much MORE somehow. He is ahead of them vocally and physically but is just a demon! When he's mixing with older children he's a dream though. I just find him very challenging when we are at home or with kids his own age.