If you had an adorable toddler boy

[BiscuitLover09876]

When did he change?

My 2 year old is so affectionate, still sleeps with us and breastfeeds, just wants his toy animals and dolls to kiss and cuddle and eat the 'food' he makes them. None of this "boys are more boisterous" crap.

If your son was like this, did he stay that way or did school/puberty ruin him? 🙈 starts nursery next week.

Lighthearted

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme

Maddy456 one of mine used to need a very long morning "walk" at that age (he rode his pedal tractor - the most exhausting method of transport but he loved it - or his balance bike - we're lucky to have suitable paths away from traffic where we live). We used to walk a three mile round trip to the playground in the next village while his big sister was at preschool. When he started preschool at 3 they asked me to help him "power out" before preschool so I used to set him circuits of the playground while I timed him (run around the sandpit, up the slide ladder and slide down, three swings on the swing and jump off, over the climbing net and back to me).

He did need that (his brother didn't) but with that built into his routine he was well behaved - he stopped needing it at about 6, by which time he was playing hours of football in all his breaks.
He wouldn't have been able to sit and behave without the chance to really exert himself first.

He's pretty chilled and lazy now at nearly 14 and doesn't need it in the same way, though he still plays football and is good at sports.

Could you build something similar in for your DS?

Thanks for your response. Ha your boy sounds like mine! Bikes and all moving things are banned in our house now as once he got a taste for them he wanted to go on them all the time and ended up having a nasty accident where he knocked out his front tooth! so now we figure a big green space he can’t hurt himself too much! He also goes to nursery five days a week so they keep him occupied. I think he’s hard work for them though

He's still chilled out and loving at 13, although not as cuddly, more fist bumps than kisses! I do get a hug in the morning and at bedtime though, as does dp. Never been boisterous. Took until secondary school to find his people though, primary was very hard for him in a class of 24 boys, all wanting to fight each other constantly.

Mine's just turned 16, is 6' tall but is still incredibly huggy and generally lovely. He was replaced by a slightly grumpier version for a couple of years but then the lovely, kind, cuddly original version came back.

Maddy456 children like that need "heavy work" to get the sensory input they need - digging in a sandpit, peddling, jumping - you need to give the time in the green space some structure to ensure he gets that. Mine was and is a lovely, easy and well behaved child (teen now) often described as a gentleman but also very sporty, football goal keeper for the last 10 years and captain of the team throughout most of primary.

There's no need at all for a child who needs high levels of physical activity to be a naughty or boisterous or hard work child if their needs are met - if nursery find him hard they need to look at their strategies and incorporate not just the chance to be outdoors but proper "heavy work" which gives feedback through joints and muscles.

My 9yo is still a sweet kind boy, he loves looking after people and giving hugs. I do wonder what the teenage years will be like, but think his underlying personality is kind hearted so I'm feeling optimistic

Little DS is 13 & I think still the best of my brood for sheer kindness & goodness of heart. And always will be.

Biggest DS was lovely until about 13. He's got a lot going for him but adorable not.