~3 year old Taking Shoes Off

[trix23]

I have an almost 3 year old who will take shoes off 3x or more in the afternoons after PM snack is done and we are doing free play/ music. I've tried time outs, talking about keeping shoes on, excluding from activities, etc and nothing seems to be working.

Mom seems on-board with nipping it in the bud but I don't think follow-through at home is as good as it is with me.

Suggestions/ideas?

[springv]

We have a child that does the exact same thing and is also the same age as well however, child is developmentally delayed in language skills and doesn't communicate

[Ariana]

How many kids do you have? Do you catch him in the act and tell him to stop? I assume you do and he is not listening?

This is just the strangest thing!! Sounds like a nervous anxiety thing perhaps? Children with anxiety often have routines they perform to calm themselves. Do you think this might be the case?

[284878]

Do the shoes hurt his feet?

[hwichlaz]

Are you inside? I hate wearing shoes. They are not comfortable. They restrict the movement of my feet, feel suffocating. I can't imagine being a toddler trying to deal with that. Maybe if mom finds something more comfortable that doesn't feel like a shoe he'll leave them on. Like Robeez? My kids wore Robeez until they were 4 or 5 years old, so I no they make larger sizes.

[Jupadia]

Mom also may not be able to follow up at home, if they dont wear shoes inside.

[Ac114]

Originally Posted by Jupadia

Mom also may not be able to follow up at home, if they dont wear shoes inside.

This is my thought. We don’t wear shoes inside and half the time my kids don’t wear shoes outside either 🤷🏼*♀️

[knoxmomof2]

I just put them back on the first time, tap the shoe with my finger and say "leave your shoes on. Do not take them off." If they try again, they get a direct stare and "no, leave them on." For the age you have, shouldn't be an issue. Of course, you'll want to watch for any signs of discomfort (either their body language or red spots on their feet) and address that with the parents, otherwise the above should work.

I wouldn't bother the parents with this, it's an "at daycare" issue that only you can fix (again, as long as it's a behavioral thing and not a discomfort thing).

[coloradoprovider]

I deal with the opposite problem - I don't allow shoes inside! if a child/parent wanted said child to wear shoes inside they would need to leave a clean pair that I wash and keep the bottoms clean and that they can only wear inside. Would you allow the child to change into a softer soled shoe when inside?

Originally Posted by Ariana

How many kids do you have? Do you catch him in the act and tell him to stop? I assume you do and he is not listening?

This is just the strangest thing!! Sounds like a nervous anxiety thing perhaps? Children with anxiety often have routines they perform to calm themselves. Do you think this might be the case?

Usually she does it so fast that I don't see it happen or I'll notice it when she starts taking off other kids' shoes. I have 3-6 on any given day. But def could be anxiety as it seems she has that. Her mom def has it and kinda passes along little bits of anxiety onto the child.

[Mom2Two]

I had never even thought of dck keeping shoes on inside. We are totally shoes off, except for me, since I got plantar fasciitis and need to wear memory foam indoors now.

Not trying to be snarky...genuinely not understanding...but why have kids keep shoes on indoors?

[knoxmomof2]

Originally Posted by Mom2Two

I had never even thought of dck keeping shoes on inside. We are totally shoes off, except for me, since I got plantar fasciitis and need to wear memory foam indoors now.

Not trying to be snarky...genuinely not understanding...but why have kids keep shoes on indoors?

Answering for my own situation, I'm not the OP. It saves time and effort to leave them on from when they arrive to when we go outside in the morning. In the afternoon, after nap and snack, I get everyone changed, shoes on and ready to go outside and eventually home. Once their shoes are on, they need to stay on because I don't want to be scrambling around looking for shoes or tying laces when their parent walks in. I want them to go home! Lol....

[AmyKidsCo]

Also not being snarky, just curious - why can't they take their shoes off? Is it a center rule? Safety issue?

If it's not a rule I say let them stay off. Why put yourself through all that hassle if you don't have to?

[Lissa Kristine]

I know that my state requires shoes at all times- including during nap. It's for safety reasons. If there's an emergency and we need to evacuate, we won't have time to get shoes on everyone.

Personally, I don't see a problem with kids being barefoot outdoors, but the state disagrees.