Dealing with an exuberant 4.5 yo...

[Pheebe]

How can I help DS1 be a bit calmer and more careful when doing stuff like making cakes? At the moment he gets so excited he actually ruins the activity, cue cake mix, water and egg everywhere except in the bowl and no cakes at the end of it . I don't want to be overly controlling of him or constantly telling him to calm down but at the moment he's his own worst enemy.

Any ideas?

Talk to him before you start. Say, remember last time no cake? This time we need cake. I'm sure he'll agree . Tell him if he gets a bit ott you'll stop him, and remind him, but that you're not doing it all for him. If he starts getting a bit too chaotic, stop and repeat, then let him have another go. He's definitely old enough not to splash it up the walls imo, but you're right, you don't have to be controlling.

Thanks Smee

I like the stop and think about it approach. I really don't want to stifle his natural enthusiasm and enjoyment...but I want cake too

Its not just cake making though, its pretty much everything he does and I worry for him when he starts school in September. I was excluded from doing a christmas colage once cos my teacher told me I was 'too messy' with the glitter ...I was 6! I don't want that to happen to him.

Hi Pheebe, my 3 1/2 DS is just the same! He's totally hyper a lot and I've tried lots of strategies. The 'thinking step' doesn't work with him anymore, so I'm now trying the 'stop and think' approach a bit. Otherwise I'd just be yelling 'no' at him all the time, which obviously isn't really going to help!

I do think that by seeming to give him the choice of to continue with the hyper behaviour, and then ruin the activity, meaning no fun time - eventually my DS will learn. But it's so no easy, is it!! Please let me know if you come up with any amazing strategies that work!