Into Everything Syndrome!

Most of us have at least one child who gets into everything imaginable.My first son never went through anything.You'd have to beg him to go through his own toybox.When my second son came around, it was a completely different story.We are always telling him to not eat off the floor,don't stick stuff into electrical outlets, and please don't hurt the cat.He is always into trouble.It's more than just adventurous...it's destructive with him! I've done everything I done with my oldest boy, but my young son just wants to do everything he wants without any boundaries.I find it hard to cope with it sometimes.But I've done a few things to try to lessen my struggle with him.Try your best to make the temptation less. It's hard to remind my three year old to put precious items away where the baby can't get it. I try to help put them away too. It's not really fair to lay all that responsibility on a child that young.They are forgetful too.If you have a child who dumps drinks out just for the fun of it, don't let him carry his cup around the house. I have a rule where he can't take his drink out of the kitchen. He also has to ask for it first.That way I can keep an eye on him.Be firm with items that are definantly off limits.My youngest will go through our DVDs and break them right in half.We've tried to explain to stay away from these things.Of course he won't.So I've told him I'll give one warning and then it's time out.If he does it again,yes, I will spank him.I do not like spanking at all.But when a child keeps on doing things he knows he's not supposed to, I feel that I gave him plenty of chances to straighten up.My child loves to do everything he sees someone else doing.I try to include him into all we do.If I put away clothes,he loves to give me the next hanger.When I clean the windows,he'll be right there cleaning too.Sometimes giving them the opportunity to help or get involved does help, but then sometimes it doesn't. I know it doesn't hurt to try anything. It might take much longer with a young toddler helping out, but it's better than what they do behind your back when you're doing your own chores.