2 year olds behaviour in groups

[ElizaVB]

Hi,

Just looking for some advice about my wild 2 year old please.

I take her to a couple of toddler groups every week (story time at local library & Baby Ballet). We've been going for ages so she's used to the setting and what to expect. Yet she just will not stay with me, as soon as the session gets going she's up and running round the venue with minimal engagement with the activities.

She's very outgoing and I've no concerns with her behaviour other than this issue.

I just feel like none of the other kids behave like she does at the groups and even though nobody has said anything bad I feel like its disrupting others

Any suggestions on how to teach her to stop this? And is it just normal 2 year old behavior?

Thanks 😊

Hi, so I have a baby and a toddler and go to loads of groups. Each week someone's kid (including mine) is running around not engaging in the class purpose but it's unusual for it to be the same one week in week out. Has she outgrown the activity? Has the teacher changed to someone less engaging?

Story time wouldn't hold my toddler's attention in a group setting at all though, so I would choose a more hands on class for mine.

Perhaps she isn't interested in the activity? Could you try a few others and see what holds her attention? Something less structured maybe like crafts, messy play or soft play?

In my opinion it's sometimes about finding the right group. I had an active wild toddler who generally preferred to run around rather than engage with the activity, but then I took him to a music group and he loved it and behaved really well at that group. Now he's 13yo and loves music, plays in a band etc.

For your DD - maybe try something like tumble tots if there's one near you?

Mine was better at outdoor activities or less structured ones, forest school and that kind of thing. I ruled out some groups because they weren't really suited to his energy levels and he wouldn't have gotten anything from them.

My second child was like this- find different groups. A forest school group worked brilliantly for us, as did a free play gymnastics session. She's 3.5 now and does sometimes sit for longer than 30seconds.

Both of those sound quite sedate. Maybe try a free for all style play group where they can run round or a forest school style. Very normal behaviour though. I deliver a library story time and there's alway a mix of those who can sit and those who can't. I try to make it more engaging with puppets/props /singing etc .

My toddler is the same. I definitely agree that you should try more high energy groups.

Mine behaves perfectly and is constantly engaged at Little Movers where he essentially dances round like a loon for 40 minutes. However, he drove me absolutely mad at Hartbeeps where he was so bored that he was literally climbing the walls to get the other resources out, and the same for baby football where there was surprisingly little running round and lots of 'skill work' for a 22 month old.

I know it's annoying when you see all of the other kids calmly listening and doing what they're supposed to, but 2 is still very little and even as adults we all have different personalities and like different things, but we just get better at being polite in social situations!

What others said. He’s (?) so little. If what he wants is to run around, go to a playground or a free flow group or some sort of toddler rave. Otherwise it’s stressful and unenjoyable for you both.

I don’t see the problem. She’s 2 years old, why are you expecting her to sit still or to engage in ‘rules’ and instructions? Free play is how they learn best, exploring is also how they learn best.

the only groups my toddler ever goes to are ones where he can play/run around/pretty much do as he pleases. Toddlers aren’t meant to just sit and listen or listen and wait. I would absolutely 100000% avoid ANY group where my child was expected to follow some kind of rules, most places have caught up with the times and realise that free play is best. These ones do not

She's only 2. Far too young to be expected to behave and engage with baby ballet and libraries . Take her for a run around the park instead.