SHOULD a 2 and 1 year old have the run of the HOUSE?

Ok, first of all people READ the Questions FULLY before answering them. Considering the question here states planely that the kitchen is blocked off & the bathroom is locked, I'm pretty sure the drowning issue is faily covered. As for them having run of the house, as long as they have & understand rules. Our 3yo & 1 &1/2yo have had run of the house since before the youngest was born. The rules were taught & enforced from day one & neither of them get into areas that they're not supposed to, or even come close to the stairs. I have a Coca-Cola collection including glasses & bottles that is right between the rec room where my wife & I watch TV & the girls' playroom, neither of them try to play with or take anything from my collection (not even the toys) even though they pass them numerous times a day. As long as a child is given rules & bounderies & they are enforced the same way every time, a child will learn quickly what they're allowed to do & what they're not.

NO they shouldn't but they will if you let em. Dunking your head in the toilet is dangerous business on so many levels. Besides the fact that it is beyond gross and the diseases she can get she could DROWNED and in no time. I shut off rooms just so I can keep up better but before long she will be able to open those doors and you need to get locks now to avoid any mishaps. They also sell individual door alarms that sound when they open a closed door. Good Luck!!!

The children sound bored. They need activities that they can participate in without negative attention. What will happen after a while is that they like the negative attention and it makes other things more difficult. First, make sure they have a space for many of their own age appropriate toys. Play with them for a period of time each day- make sure there is time for music and movement- art activities- moving toys- and some time with outside toys. If they love water, allow a fun but supervised time in the bath with an inch or two of water. They can wear their bathing suits and play with water toys. Now, for the rest of the house. You may have to invest in some sturdy gates, door locks (up high) - children can drown in the toliet if they fall in- they can't necessarily pull themselves out. They have to clearly understand limits and have procdures for certain rooms in the house.(I am a middle school teacher. and I have six children- the first three were born within three years.)

You need to make the rules clear. One way to discourage head dunking in the toilet is to show the toilet to miss head dunker just after some obliging male has hung a really big turd in it.

You shouldn't lock the rooms you don't want the children in give them activities and games that keep them occupied away from those areas. As well as making it clear that these areas are no go zones.

No.

Kids get into things but sometimes thier fun can turn into disasters for us parents or older siblings.

My two year old loves to put things in the tiolet and flush it. Sad to say I've had people out to my tiolet more times than I know. Now we shut the bathroom door. My son loves the water so much that I can put him in the tub and he won't put things in the tiolet. He'll play in the water.

It's okay to have boundaries. Children don't understand their actions, nor do they understand the consequences. We do and we have to draw the line.

I don't have too much of a problem with the kitchen other tahn him trying to get in the fridge but the bathroom is off limits.

They should have fun and explore the house but you know what's dangerous (hazardous) for them and you have to do what you gotta do.

I know it's hard with 2 that close together. I had 5 within 8 years. You can buy child safety latches for the toilet lid, similar to the ones you should have on your cabinets. Also they make safety covers for door knobs, that make it very difficult for small children to use them.

Discipline is what those children need. Use the word no... tell them what you expect of them or what they should do. If they don't do it put them in timeout. Let them cry. Once they have quieted go in and ask them if they are ready to listen and behave. Take them out and try again. If they do it again, repeat the same steps as before. I have a 17 month old son, and he understands what I am saying. So when he misbehaves I tell him one time no or he'll go in time out. If you proceeds to do it I put him up in his crib until he stops crying.

You should give them a certain amount of time to be free. Just keep a close eye on them. If you have to do housework, have someone come over to help you watch them. they shouldn't be cooped up all the time in a play pen. But you do need time to yourself, too.

You need to put her in a 2 minute time out. If she keeps doing it, take a toy away. You need to be more firm. Don't let her by with murder. Put your foot down.

Heck no!!!!!! That's why generation X and beyond are so screwed up now. If some type of discipline isn't set up for a 1 or 2 yr. old, just imagine..............!