2.5 yr old playing with toys and climbing inot the other children's playpens

So I have a 2.5 yr old that has been with me for 2 weeks now, she is a climber. Today I went down cause one of the other children was yelling for me. The 2.5 yr old had pulled toys off a shelf on the wall and was in one of the other children's playpens. She had also gone into the food cupboard and put food in the playpen. This is not the first time. She is still in a playpen because I can at least cover it to try to contain her, which isnt working. I refuse to sit down there, she is 2.5, she shoud understand "stay in bed". Help!

Video monitor has been a huge help for me to be able to keep an eye on them. I personally would baby proof a bit more so she can't get into the food for instance and either sit down there for the next wk or so until she gets it or get a monitor you can redirect her with. I would have a special activity set up for all the kids after nap time and only those that listen during nap get to do it. I would hazzard a guess that it would take just once of getting left out to get it for the next day.

I also have a video monitor and highly reccomend it! I had to go awhile without it while waiting for a new one and was so thankful when the new one finally came in lol

Sadly, just because they SHOULD get it doesn't mean they do, especially if they aren't expected to at home. They have to be trained to get it and trained to know they are expected to get it.

It sucks but it may mean for a good week or two you need to either be in the room or right outside the room peeking in the door. When the child gets up to exit the playpen they need a firm "no" or "lie down" or similar cue. You need to intervene before they get out of the playpen...because once they are out they are doing what they want and likely don't respond to the consequence. You need to intervene BEFORE they succeed with their plan.

A video monitor would do wonders...mine has the ability for me to talk over it...so I would be able to give that "lie down" command as soon as they stood without being in the room.

Keep it plain and simple. No emotion, anger or frustration showing (some kids feed of this) just a firm 'lie down' over and over and over and over until the child tires of trying. The do tiring of trying...its just usually long after we as adults tire of trying to stop them.