My just turned 4 year old has changed her behavior in alarming ways.?

Question

She turned 4 on 10/17 and moved from a car seat to a booster.  She s started unbuckling her seat belt while the car is moving.  A couple of evenings ago at nearly dark she decided to find someone to play with.  She went to a neighbors house and asked if they had kids, alone, near dark, across the street!  She s never allowed out front alone, or to go across the street alone or to go to someone else s house alone.  She s climbing up inside the refrigerator to get her own yogurt instead of asking for it.  I understand she s grown up some but she s still only 4!

boneheaderss · Answer

Are you serious?

I find it difficult to believe how a responsible adult can leave a 4 year old unattended to have them get out of the house and go across the street without you knowing!

If this is a serious question, you could buy a chain link lock and attach it to the door high up so that she can't reach it. Otherwise, you will need to buy one of those cheap alarms to put on the windows and the doors to prevent her from leaving the house without you knowing.

And if your child takes off her seat belt, she is not mature enough to sit in a booster seat and must sit in a car seat with a harness system. Most 4 year olds are not anyways because they need to sit relatively still in order for the seat belt system to protect them. You can use the "coat trick" to prevent a child from escaping their car seat. If it is hot where you live, you can also do this with a button up shirt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4f3gjicSdU

If you need help with finding a car seat to fit a 4 year old as on this forum: http://www.car-seat.org/

? · Answer

She's not doing this in spite of being only 4 years old, but BECAUSE she is only 4 years old. Old enough to be physically capable of unbuckling a seat belt, climbing into the fridge and opening the front door, but not old enough to fully grasp why all these things are a bad idea.

Anonymous · Answer

Most four year olds do this.  You just have to explain things to her in a simple way.  This is very important for her development, that you explain stuff.

Pat Brown · Answer

at every stage, youngsters will be doing things that alarm their parents.  that is why you need to be vigilant and pay attention, set some firm safety rules, and be prepared to explain things clearly at her level.

Ebony · Answer

Ummm yes that is what four year olds do when they aren't being supervised.

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My just turned 4 year old has changed her behavior in alarming ways.?

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