Kid screams... all day.

[Anonymous]

Have any of you ever dealt with this? My charge just turned 2. She's extremely smart, communicates in nearly full sentences, I can understand exactly what she's asking for every time she asks... but she rarely asks. She just screams constantly, to the point that I'm basically desensitized to it. Every time I mention it to her parents they just say "yeah... she just does that." I've been with her for about 9 months and it still not particularly new, but it has definitely gotten worse over the past few months. If she wants a snack, she screams, then she screams if I take the wrong banana off the bunch, screams for a specific dress, screams because she doesn't want to go outside, screams because she doesn't want to go back in... I don't know what to do anymore.

[Anonymous]

Stop paying any attention to her when she screams. Tell her beforehand that she must use her polite inside voice. Remind her once each time she screams that you can’t help her unless she uses PIV.

If you do this, I bet she quits screaming at you in less than 3 work days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop paying any attention to her when she screams. Tell her beforehand that she must use her polite inside voice. Remind her once each time she screams that you can’t help her unless she uses PIV.

If you do this, I bet she quits screaming at you in less than 3 work days.

I do this. She screams for HOURS. Her parents don't do this and won't do this, so she persists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop paying any attention to her when she screams. Tell her beforehand that she must use her polite inside voice. Remind her once each time she screams that you can’t help her unless she uses PIV.

If you do this, I bet she quits screaming at you in less than 3 work days.

I disagree with ignoring a 2 y/o and expecting that to work. It sucks, I know! Correct her every time. Have her ask nicely for what she wants. It will take time, I have screamers (twins) as well. It’s can be very hard.

[Anonymous]

I'd quit.

[Anonymous]

I would have quit long ago. Something wrong with this kid.

[Anonymous]

I would ignore everything she screams and refuse to communicate at all until she speaks in a reasonable voice. You need to think of a behavior in terms of it's function, or purpose. If the purpose of this behavior is seeking attention, you cut off the attention to extinguish the behavior. This takes time and you need to be consistent or it will not work. The parents must follow through too or whatever you do will be for naught.

[Anonymous]

Does she have hearing problems?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does she have hearing problems?

Not that we're aware of, but that may be something to look into. She responds consistently to her name or when we speak to her in a normal voice, but I'll see if her parents want to look into that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop paying any attention to her when she screams. Tell her beforehand that she must use her polite inside voice. Remind her once each time she screams that you can’t help her unless she uses PIV.

If you do this, I bet she quits screaming at you in less than 3 work days.

I do this. She screams for HOURS. Her parents don't do this and won't do this, so she persists.

This is extremely concerning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does she have hearing problems?

Not that we're aware of, but that may be something to look into. She responds consistently to her name or when we speak to her in a normal voice, but I'll see if her parents want to look into that.

Does she respond if you speak behind her or only when she can see you?

[Anonymous]

Then, what are you doing to change it? Kids can behave differently with different people so you need to approach it where you retrain her not to scream and ask for her needs.

[Anonymous]

Kids know there are different rules/expectations for different people. Start putting her in time out every time she does it. Give 1 warning then make her sit. If you are out make her sit on the floor. After 2 mins tell her she can get up and talk properly. You may end up having her sit on the floor 20x in a day but she will get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does she have hearing problems?

Not that we're aware of, but that may be something to look into. She responds consistently to her name or when we speak to her in a normal voice, but I'll see if her parents want to look into that.

Does she respond if you speak behind her or only when she can see you?

Another test of her hearing would be: at some point while the child is engrossed in something she is doing, stand behind her and clap. See if she flinches or acts as if she heard you clap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does she have hearing problems?

Not that we're aware of, but that may be something to look into. She responds consistently to her name or when we speak to her in a normal voice, but I'll see if her parents want to look into that.

Does she respond if you speak behind her or only when she can see you?

Another test of her hearing would be: at some point while the child is engrossed in something she is doing, stand behind her and clap. See if she flinches or acts as if she heard you clap.

This isn't a hearing issue. Its a parenting/nanny behavior issue. Clapping doesn't work as a hearing exam is way more and its about different tones and a clap would just be one sound. Very bad advice.