Help with 2 Year Old Nephew (toddler, toys, parents, play)
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Hi, I'm the aunt of a two year old who's mother never encourages him to come to his grandparents or me.
We only see him 4 times a year and every time we go to their house, he never wants to come to us so we have to pick him up and he freaks out and starts crying and then runs to his mother.
This year we went down there for christmas and my step dad was sitting by him on the couch and my sister told her son to tell us to "quit invading his personal space".
He always has to be by his mother.
Is there a reason why she will not encourage him to interact with his grandparents or his aunt?
and does not being related by blood have anything to do with it?
Don't pick up a kid who doesn't want you to touch him! Bring toys to play with together. Be playful with him - peek a boo, magic tricks. You have to charm him into WANTING to interact with you. He's two years old, shy of you, doesn't see you often. You have to EARN his interest in you, not expect his mother to command it.
Don't pick up a kid who doesn't want you to touch him! Bring toys to play with together. Be playful with him - peek a boo, magic tricks. You have to charm him into WANTING to interact with you. He's two years old, shy of you, doesn't see you often. You have to EARN his interest in you, not expect his mother to command it.
We do that and he still wants nothing to do with us.
Hi, I'm the aunt of a two year old who's mother never encourages him to come to his grandparents or me.
We only see him 4 times a year and every time we go to their house, he never wants to come to us so we have to pick him up and he freaks out and starts crying and then runs to his mother.
This year we went down there for christmas and my step dad was sitting by him on the couch and my sister told her son to tell us to "quit invading his personal space".
He always has to be by his mother.
Is there a reason why she will not encourage him to interact with his grandparents or his aunt?
and does not being related by blood have anything to do with it?
I would say they are good parents and have a reason to protect their child.
A very good reason indeed.
Many two year olds take a while to warm up to unfamiliar people. One of the worst things to do is come in and immediately want to hug & kiss them as it is quite scary to many young children. My great nephew is two, rather social, and I see him every month or two and it still took him about an hour and a half to "warm up" to me and want to interact with me on Christmas Day. And he still did not want me to pick him up or to sit on my lap. That is OK. Just because I am bigger and stronger than a child doesn't mean that I have the "right" to pick them up. Would you want someone picking up if you said "No" or implied No by crying?
Next time ignore him for a while (or just say Hello) and just interact with the adults. Bring a toy or two along and start to play with it in an open spot in the room. Have a lot of fun enjoying the toy, laughing and having fun and I bet he will come and join you on the floor. I know this sounds silly but it really works. And, if it doesn't work this time, I bet it will work the next time.
Look at this way, a two year old probably doesn't not remember you from your visit 3 months ago. Imagine how you would feel if some person who you do not know, has a booming loud voice, and is 14 feet tall and 700 pounds rushes in and wants to hug and kiss you. That is what you may seem like to a tiny two year old. Now imagine TWO 14 foot people, 700 pounds each wanting to "be loving and affectionate" with you and pick you up as soon as they walk in the door. Pretty Scary, isn't it?
The child may be a little too attached to Mom, you and his grandmother may be too aggressive and loud, he may be too young to be interested in new people or he may be shy----or probably a combination of all of those things.
Relax and give him time. A three or four year old is much, much more social than a toddler.
Many two year olds take a while to warm up to unfamiliar people. One of the worst things to do is come in and immediately want to hug & kiss them as it is quite scary to many young children. My great nephew is two and I see him every month or two and it still took him about an hour and a half to "warm up" to me and want to interact with me on Christmas Day.
Next time ignore him for a while (or just say Hello) and just interact with the adults. Bring a toy or two along and start to play with it in an open spot in the room. Have a lot of fun enjoying the toy, laughing and having fun and I bet he will come and join you on the floor. I know this sounds silly but it really works. And, if it doesn't work this time, I bet it will work the next time.
Look at this way, a two year old probably doesn't not remember you from your visit 3 months ago. Imagine how you would feel if some person who you do not know, has a booming loud voice, and is 14 feet tall and 700 pounds rushes in and wants to hug and kiss you. That is what you may seem like to a tiny two year old. Now imagine TWO 14 foot people, 700 pounds each wanting to "be loving and affectionate" with you and pick you up as soon as they walk in the door. Pretty Scary, isn't it?
The child may be a little too attached to Mom, you and his grandmother may be too aggressive and loud, he may be too young to be interested in new people or he may be shy----or probably a combination of all of those things.
Relax and give him time. A three or four year old is much, much more social than a toddler.
Ok, Thank You. That's what I'll do next time I see him.
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