What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

Let me preface this by saying, this kid is by no means deprived of socializtion. Just this weekend alone he was out from 8am until 4pm at 2 playdates. We have family parties EVERY weekend (where he gets to see some of his 20+ cousins) He goes to school two days a week, and a speech class another day.

He NEVER EVER EVER wants to come home. After we were done today he wanted to go to the park. It was raining so obviously I said no. He screamed screams that I never heard before. Literally hurt my ears (I can't imagine poor Tyler)

He kicks, screams, hits, you name it. Does not want to come inside. I'm starting to take it personally Seriously though, does anyone else have this issue because I'm at a loss. I used to bribe him with 100calorie cupcakes, candy, shakes, but I'm tired of bribing him for something as silly as coming home.

HELP!

Re: What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

No one else has this issue

Re: What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

Message edited 2/24/2022 9:01:54 PM.

Re: What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

I have the same problem. My son always wants to be outside exploring. He will literally kick and scream as we take him away from whatever he wants more than home. I try to distract him with something else and hope for the best.

Re: What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

DD always has fun where she is and I give her time warnings. I can suggest a countdown for him so he knows what is coming.
"We are leaving in 5 minutes, so go on the slide one last time"
Then give the countdown in increments
3 more minutes...
1 more minute "say goodbye to the slide for today"...
OK, we are leaving now.

This may help him learn to "wrap it up" instead of just giving a definite NOW LETS GO.

Hope this helps!

Re: What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

DS used to be this way and like you we are always out somewhere or at a party. He also has lots of friends and cousins, so the boy was not deprived.

What I started to do was giv him a 10 minute warning. I would set the timer onb my phone or wherever and he knew when it buzzed it was time to go. I also explained to him that for everytime we leave...we will always return!

Message edited 4/26/2010 12:57:15 PM.

Re: What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

Posted by CouponMom

DD always has fun where she is and I give her time warnings. I can suggest a countdown for him so he knows what is coming.
"We are leaving in 5 minutes, so go on the slide one last time"
Then give the countdown in increments
3 more minutes...
1 more minute "say goodbye to the slide for today"...
OK, we are leaving now.

This may help him learn to "wrap it up" instead of just giving a definite NOW LETS GO.

Hope this helps!

Re: What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

Not so much now but we used to have this problem big time.

What works now is a warning. And there are times (just happened yesterday) where he doesn't want to come home. DH or I scoop him up (kicking, screaming, hitting) and wrestle him and restrain him in his carseat. The whole time we just repeat that it's time to go home. We know he wants to play more but it's time to go home. We do not hit. We're stern with him. And he settles within a minute while DH and I have worked up a sweat.

As far as bribes, I'll only offer something in the beginning if it fits what we're doing. If we're at the playground I'll say "ok, let's go to the car so we can drink some water and go home." If we're outside in the backyard and it is getting late I'll say "let's go in the house so we can take a bath...we'll do a bubble bath tonight". So i try and incorporate something he likes so he's making the choice.

These are just things that have worked for us. I think Jack just likes his social life

Re: What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

Re: What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

Re: What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

Re: What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

Logan gets like this from time to time.

Usually it starts with "I don't like my house!" on the ride home.

I started combatting it by giving him a special "job" when we get home each time.

Mostly he likes to push the button on the garage door opener so he makes the door go up.

Or I'll give him the keys and he "unlocks" the door, or he gets to bring in a package or the mail.

Things that are so not fun for me, but are cool for him.

That's helped a lot.

Another thing is pretending I can't find our house.

"Which one is Logan's? Is it this one?"

I start that when we are about a mile away, so by the time we get within sight, he's giggling - "THAT'S MY HOUSE!"

Re: What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

Posted by leighla

Logan gets like this from time to time.

Usually it starts with "I don't like my house!" on the ride home.

I started combatting it by giving him a special "job" when we get home each time.

Mostly he likes to push the button on the garage door opener so he makes the door go up.

Or I'll give him the keys and he "unlocks" the door, or he gets to bring in a package or the mail.

Things that are so not fun for me, but are cool for him.

That's helped a lot.

Another thing is pretending I can't find our house.

"Which one is Logan's? Is it this one?"

I start that when we are about a mile away, so by the time we get within sight, he's giggling - "THAT'S MY HOUSE!"

Re: What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

Re: What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

Re: What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

I have this problem with DS. We have to hide his shoes and jacket at home!!!!

Re: What do you do with a child who NEVER wants to come home

Yup, I go through this with Nina. She screams and cries when she has to come in the house or when we pull up at the house. However, I do not socialize her a lot because I don't drive anymore, so I think she is completely bored with being home.