What is it with kids and treading on stuff?

[puntasticusername]

DS1 (2.11) does it constantly. Generally his toys, when they're spread across the floor. He seems to do it absentmindedly, just because things are under his feet.

We say "don't do that, it might break" - and I do get that that isn't totally helpful, because most of the time they DON'T break so he doesn't see that consequence as real.

He's an incredibly good kid but just cannot seem to resist this urge to explore things with his feet. And when I tell him off for it he gives me that hurt and bewildered look that suggests he's not being deliberately naughty, but instead there's something going on that I just don't understand.

So - is it a developmental thing or something? I'd obviously much rather he didn't do it - but if it's an actual Thing, rather than just him being a bit contrary, I'll have a lot more patience with it (especially if there is some explanation that might help me figure out how to stop him doing it!).

Dd tramples over anything and she likes to hang off the sofa with her feet on whatever is on the floor, she slips off and the toy or whatever gets either broken or shot across the floor. I'm always telling her to watch out and be careful but she doesn't seem to notice or remember.

DD (20m) likes to put things on the floor & stand on them on purpose. Books, Duplo bases, also little things like magnets from her magnetic drawing board, which then stick to her foot & she hobbles round the room like that. On purpose. I remove said item from her foot, she gets upset, retrieves it & does it again. I can only assume it's a developmental thing as I've heard of other toddlers doing this too.

I honestly cannot remember my DDs doing this. In addition I would not have tolerated it as I believed toys should be respected as they were expensive. It is also disrespectful to the people who have bought them, eg Grandparents etc. who may struggle to afford them. My Mother would have been so upset to see her grandchildren treading all over the toys and breaking them. I strongly disagree it is developmental as it can be avoided by taking the toys off the floor. Or removing the toys if you think they will get broken. I think if you respect the people who gave the toys, you should expect your children should take reasonable care of them whilst playing with them. Obviously poorly made toys can break but I would try and make sure fewer toys are on the floor. What are children being taught if they think it is ok to trample on things and break them?

Mine never did it as children. However my dad was known for stepping on things. In fact, if I lose a pin while sewing, I bemoan that he's not near enough to come and walk around, as he'd inevitably tread on it. Very easy to find things.

Maybe there are too many toys? Try putting some away and rotating then every now and then.

Yeah, I hate seeing nice things get trodden all over too - but getting cross with DS about it just doesn't have any effect, so that's why I was trying to think outside the box a bit in trying to find an explanation. As I say, he's generally a great kid and we are fairly strict parents, so I'm confident that it's not a naughtiness/discipline issue.

We do get DS to tidy his toys away as he goes - he can get a few out at a time, but before long he has to start putting a toy back in the cupboard before getting a new one out, and we tidy everything away every night - it's not that our house is permanently untidy! It's just that whatever IS out, seems to be magnetically attracted to the soles of DS's feet...

Thanks to those who have said they're suffering with the same issue, that's reassuring at least

Dd does this and it drives me insane, MummyPig your dd sounds exactly like mine with this habbit. She can be looking at something out the window, colouring, doing puzzles, looking at a book standing up and it being on the sofa and she always finds something to twiddle her feet on - most recently dd2's activity cube she got for christmas lying down colouring and moving the cogs on the side with her feet. I am constantly telling her off for doing so but its as if she can't keep her feet still. Its not just toys just anthing that happens to be nearby, more often that not that is a toy/book.