Three year olds who NEVER keep still!

[sandyballs]

Just wanted a MN view really - my twin DDs are just 3 and are extremely active. From the moment they wake up they are on the go, jumping, climbing, hopping, spinning, leaping off furniture .... they wear me out just looking at them.

They do have the ability to sit still and look at books, or draw/paint, do jigsaws, watch TV etc BUT only if I, or another adult, sits with them. I just feel, at their age, they should be able to play together, quietly occasionally, without adult input, particularly as there are two of them.

MIL and my own mum don't help at all and having seen them last weekend this has been troubling me - they just stare at them, shake their heads and say "oooh you were never like that". They make me feel like we've done something wrong!

Their diet is very good - no E numbers at all (as this sends one of them even more sky high!). Do I just have to accept that this is their personalities or has anyone else got any ideas to calm them down??? They are gorgeous girls but they are wearing me and DH out!

Oh dear - has everyone else got extra calm tots then!?

NO Sandyballs, I have a super-double-deluxe bouncing tot, too. This morning the clothes horse collapsed as he tried to climb it again, he treats the kitchen like an assault course, and now (thanks to Peter Pan) spends every waking moment as a pirate shouting Ahaaaaaargh! and charging about with some form of imaginary weapon, 'climbing the rigging', walking the plank and other feats. Also doing 'Prince' dancing and attempting acrobatics. We were watching a video the other night, one that DS was really absorbed in but he clambered up and down all over the furniture throughout. He will barely sit still to eat, not more than 4 or 5 mouthfuls, and is particularly boistrous when there is another toddler around, so I am sure having two must set each other off. DS is 2 and 3 quarters: the child he spends 3 days a week with (our nanny's child) is equally active, other friends are more calm and sedentary.

My DS has a sunny nature and is not deliberatley destructive, or difficult in any way, just very very energetic.

Are you worried about other problems, or is it just your Mum's and MIL's observation? If so, don't worry - In the first place, I bet you WERE a bit like that, and in the second, what does it matter? They sound delightful!

Thank you Blu. I'm going through a phase where I think everyone elses children are better behaved than mine! Must be pre-menstrual.

Hi Sandyballs,

I have a friend who is a physiotherapist and he reckons that it is actually physiologically difficult for small children to stay still. Not sure what his reasoning was but I guess it's to do with growing and just being very very different from grown ups. Not very informative or much comfort when they're sending you up the wall I know...

Have you tried good old bribery or competition - if you can play quietly on your own until I've finished (whatever) you get (whatever); who can play on their own for the longest? who can complete some really long task (colouring in several piccies?) the first?