WHY CANT SHE CLOSE THE DOOR!?!?!?

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Forum -> Parenting our children -> School age children

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goodness ↓

Wed, Dec 16 2009, 5:57 pm

My daughter was just 8 now, and I dont know what to do with her.
Every single time she goes in or out the house she doesnt close the door, and we are all going crzy from it. When the door is open, we know she came in or went out the last. Now especialy that its cold (freezing?) outside I really would love to get it into her to close that (stupid) door. Today was the hardest, NO SCHOOL, so all day shes going to friends and coming back,and of course not closing that door. I tried the nice way, and the harsh way nothing seems to help. Does any body have any ideas how to make her close it? I think it all started when I put this spring onto the door to help it close all by itself, but it broke a full YEAR ago, so she really had a whole year to learn to close the door. And my other kids dont have this problem (and I think, b/f we put the spring this was also the issue with her) PLEASE HELP ME, SOMEONE!?

amother

Wed, Dec 16 2009, 6:04 pm

I hope you figure something out. My husband is 38 and still doing this. Leaves open the fridge, drawers, front door, car doors... you name it! Drives me crazy.

Bella:D

Wed, Dec 16 2009, 6:08 pm

Do yourself a favor, fix the spring!

↑ goodness ↓

Wed, Dec 16 2009, 6:18 pm

Bella:D wrote:

Do yourself a favor, fix the spring!

I'v thought about that a long time, but you know, gotta get the spring fixed. but isnt it a lack of manners? I would really love her to learn.

sequoia

Wed, Dec 16 2009, 6:20 pm

Yeah, it would be nice, but it's not worth all this aggravation (plus heating bill). Just fix the spring.

chocolate moose

Wed, Dec 16 2009, 7:07 pm

does she have any sensory issues ?

flowerpower

Wed, Dec 16 2009, 7:10 pm

It's not that uncommon. I still have to remind my ds over and over and over to close the bathroom door behind him. Some kids are just more forgetful or out of it.

SnowPea

Wed, Dec 16 2009, 7:17 pm

Here are some of my thoughts, I hope they help
Is there any one time that you have seen her close the door?
I know this is hard but maybe try this, catch her when she does close the door, and really compliment her, maybe give her something. You can talk about it one time, discusse it togehter. she's a kid, most kids don't realize what they are doing wrong. she might not know it is wrong. or maybe she is doing it for reason find out. Talk her about it, discusse it. tell her your side and listen to her side also giving her thinking question to help her realize why you need to close doors. For example what would happen if everyone left all door opened? she can come up with ideas and you can also give her reasons why we need to close the door. also disscuss with her how is she going to change her habit, help her come up with some ideas of how she can remember to close the door.
she can make a sign by a few of the doors to remind her, you can make a reminder song, sticker charts are great incentivites,
It defintely will take time to break the habit
Hatzlacha, I hope this helps!

↑ goodness

Tue, Dec 22 2009, 5:10 pm

Thanks for the help, really appr. it. I will def try the ideas you told me. cause I need to fix this problem real fast

shanie5

Tue, Dec 22 2009, 8:47 pm

When my kids leave the door open (and cause me to freeze). I lock the door-with them on the outside. They then have to walk around the house to the back (or front)door. Eventually, they start closing it.

Another idea I read about was called "doing a groundhog". It comes from the movie "Groundhog Day" where the main character relived the same day over and over and over until he 'got it right'. So if a child does something incorrectly -from not closing the door, to slamming it, to forgetting to speak nicely-you tell them to "do a groundhog". repeat the action until it is done correctly.

I would make my child come back from wherever she went, come in, close the door, reopen it, leave and close the door behind her. This is a pain, but eventually s/he should learn.

happymom

Tue, Dec 22 2009, 8:59 pm

make a reason for her to want to close the door. like a reward for ever five times she does it or something.

greenfire

Tue, Dec 22 2009, 9:08 pm

old habits die hard ... you know why - because there really is not much you can do about these type of things ... it's like part of their personality ... you could be a broken record ... a groundhog ... a professor ... it's not going to change them ...

now how do I get them to close the kitchen cabinets What

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