Help, i'm sick of rounding up my toddler

[ThisIsNotWhatIWasAfter]

I have a gorgeous Ds1 who has just turned three. Getting him ready to for out anywhere is a nightmare. As soon as he knows i'm getting his stuff together to get dressed and go out he runs and hides. He thinks this is hilarious but it's driving me to distraction. How do i change this situation so that we can leave the house in an almost sensible fashion.I have a sneaking suspicion i can't see the wood for the trees.

I have to ask - are you having significant difficulty in finding him when he hides?

Arf @ SurgeonsMate

My 3yo is the same, runs off when I want to put his shoes on, reappears without any trousers or pants on, just needs to play with his tractor for 5 more minutes...All I can do is start getting ready much much earlier to allow for some pissing about.

This situation is mentioned in this (excellent) book: www.amazon.co.uk/Unconditional-Parenting-Moving-Rewards-Punishments/dp/0743487486/ref=cm_rdp_product

hmmm, I think this is what's called being a 3 year old :o

reward chart? Some kind of race to the front door with a prize for the winner?

I have just started the "if I count to three and you are not down here / in bathroom" etc then... DS is 2.10 and its just starting to sort of work but you do have to a) come up with a consequence that is immediate and b) that you will follow through on, so if we're going out, its that it'll be my turn with the radio instead of sodding nursery rhymes, if its bedtime its that he only gets one story (I never say none, because its such a lovely thing to do but he would usually have 2 or 3). Its harder when we're out to think of things but I am hoping that as he gets older the length of time before the consequence can extend a bit. Although he likes stickers, a sticker chart really didn't work for him.

I completely forgot i had started this thread. I'm thinking bribery and corruption is the way to go. Funny how all the principles and ideals that you have when they are tiny get eroded, dread to think what state i'll be in the other side of the teenage years.