At what age would your toddler sit nicely?!

[Theotherjolene]

We are on holiday with our nearly two year old, and I’m watching other toddlers sit around the pool/restaurant/bar etc nicely playing with toys etc and wondering at what age my child will do that?!

If we let him out of the pushchair then he just wants to run around relentlessly, and would never sit nicely doing an activity etc. He is a flight risk as soon as he has any taste of freedom, and he’s quick too. Is this normal and what age can I expect him to sit nicely and not run off 😭

2 years six months (boy) and I'm still waiting...

@Olinguita this makes me feel much better 🤣 I genuinely can’t imagine a time where he will sit nicely and not run off!

Mine is nearly 3.5 and still runs everywhere, whatever the activity or place. Non stop.

Except, oddly in restaurants. I can take him anywhere to eat and he'll sit beautifully, even for a 2 hour, 3 course long lunch.

But take him to a class or farm/zoo/garden centre, you name it, he'll just run. Even in the park, he uses the equipment for about 30% of the time, the other 70%, you guessed it, running!!

My dd is 22 years old, and it hasn't happened yet......

I would love to know the answer...mine is almost 3 and I have just had to dig the reins back out because she bolts at any opportunity and I am heavily pregnant so can't keep up. No road safety awareness at all.

Some children never, some will happily do it 18 months.

I think it's just a personality trait rather than a learned skill/developmental one. My son (currently 2.5) has always been the kind to do that, whereas his cousin and many other kids we know are more active like yours.

My dd is nearly 4 and still doesn’t.

18 years and still waiting for him to sit nicely....😂

At least 4 in my experience.

My daughter managed it about age 8. My son is 14 and I live in hope.

This is definitely personality rather than age. My 5yo doesn't sit still yet (although managed fine at school and is praised for his behaviour there...). I thought they were all like this, but my 2yo dd actually sits or plays nicely with things and has done since 1yo. She has typical toddler rage atm, but she's a much calmer person all round!

I always "ran" my children a few times a day. I run "read walk briskly" a couple of times a day.

This tended to take their pep in their step down a bit. To be fair both now run daily and compete in athletics, maybe they are getting a head start 🙀

Mmm depends what we were doing, Church he was never great because he was bored shitless, but I know we started going to restaurants for Christmas dinner at the upper end of 3. The real turning point was after school started, I think it clicked that they are part of a bigger picture and it's not all about them....he seems to have regressed in that area now at age 13 😄

Was coming on to say that mine is13 and I'm still waiting! He's great fun though. Don't compare and don't worry op. I wasted fun times worrying and it isn't worth it. Enjoy and work with what you have. Maybe his awesome personality will set him apart one day! 💗

@daydreamingnightowl I think I’m going to have to invest in a pair of reins as both my husband and I struggle to keep up with him once he gets a headstart! I didn’t realise a toddler could be so quick!

@poetrylover I really really need to take this advice onboard as I know I’m ruining good times by worrying about what he should and shouldn’t be doing 🥴 but it’s easier said than done!