Climbing onto tables and turning on xbox constantly...

[AcornsFalling]

I have an 18month old dcb who is constantly climbing onto things, turning on the xbox and DVD player, and is really just always getting into things. Opening cupboards, pulling out the outlet covers, etc. I thought my home was child proofed... Until he started! Unfortunately our entertainment centre is open so I can't keep the electronics behind doors.
Sometimes he stops when I say stop but usually does not. Then I whisk him away to the edge of the room and sit him on the floor and tell him look, don't touch and walk away... Today he was repeatedly getting into things, so I buckled him in his high chair so I could at least change diapers and make meals without constantly having to move him. I feel bad putting him in the chair for these times but not sure what else to do especially when cooking.
It's exhausting. I understand a natural curiosity but this is constant! I can't even do story time without having to get him... He is a very active boy who has no interest in tv, stories, books.
Any suggestions?

[5 Little Monkeys]

I wouldn't feel bad about putting him into his highchair so that you can safely change diapers and make meals. It keeps him safe!

Do you have a toy shelf (or something similar) that you could pull in front of the entertainment centre to block it during dc hours? Could you use velcro and attach a curtain during dc hours to cover the centre...out of sight out of mind?

Constant direction, reminders and being firm will hopefully help!

[Lee-Bee]

I know the feeling :-) I got a new shelving unit with small bins for hats/mitts/boots. It took numerous weeks of endless redirection and reminders but my group of 13-16month olds have pretty much learned that those bins are not for them to empty. It was a long process...but in the end it works.

Can you provide appropriate things for the child to climb? Kids need to climb...some really, really NEED to climb. I had to buy things to let them do this in an appropriate way, just saying no all day doesn't help their NEED to do it and drives me bonkers...now I can direct them over to the climber or the rocking horse etc when they have that need. Helps my sanity.

That said...my 13month daughter old just discovered she can climb up on chairs, stand hands free and dance...and she can get up on the daycare lunch table and crawl around (it's only 18" high). So...now I spend all day redirecting her and hoping the others don't start to join in her fun. It's hard...it is so cute to see all the effort it takes to climb up on the chair (child size) stand up and do a happy dance. I'd love to take pics and giggle...but I know I need to keep being firm and consistent to end the behavior now (before the others join in).

The joys of toddlerhood!

[Momof4]

It's exhausting when you have to constantly be on top of a child like this, saying Don't Touch 1000 times a day every day. But you have to do it. I agree that you shouldn't feel guilty if you have to put him in a chair or playpen for short times to give yourself a break, but don't give up. It will pay off.

Something that I did a long time ago when I had a child like this was to print out a bunch of little Stop Signs. I put them on the things that the child was not allowed to touch. I also gave some to the Mom because she was having the same problem at home. With both of us doing the same thing, the child learned fairly quickly with that method.

[AmandaKDT]

My dad put a sheet of clear plexiglass in front of their entertainment unit because my nephew was SUPER busy. You could see everything and use the remotes, but it was covered.