Somehow in the "relaxation" of summer, I/we have gotten totally lax with consequences and repeating myself a zillion times. Now I pay the price... the well established boundaries of what he's allowed to touch or not touch have flown out the window. It's to the point where ds climbs on/over me to touch offending item.
My reaction is to yell... so last night I felt convicted to use a gentler voice- without reducing the authority. Is that possible?

Also- behaviour related... what do your (did your) sons play with at just before/around two?
DS seems to be bored with toys and only play with them when dh or I are with him. I've tried the circulation route to no avail. It would be easy to go out and buy him a whack load of toys, but I don't think that is necessary (counter-productive even).
Here's what he's got available:
- trains (simple track)
- numerous cars and vehicles
- blocks for stacking, counting (he loves counting), puzzles
- simple puzzles
- duplo blocks
- puppets
- little people barn, house, ark
- books
- foam building blocks
- old keyboard/mouse to play "computer"
- old phone to call nana and play with numbers

Aside from pretend kitchen/dress-up I can't think of anything else he should "need". Man- that list is long and that's just indoors.
Maybe I'm over analysing this... which is quite likely.
Has anybody done a major removal? Like leave only one or two toys out and hide the rest?
d:)

:-DHere are a few ideas that my kids have loved.

Play-Doh, even if they eat it it won't hurt them.
Finger paint
Crayons and paper
This age is great for doing things that involve "touching" things. Different textures, colors, etc. Don't mind the messines, just put him in his high chair in his diaper. When ds was that age I put a little plastic pool in the kitchen with some rice and dried beans in it and he loved to shovel and scoop it around. If you can give him something to get his hands in he will be happy.:-D

I was going to suggest things like Jen, more hands on craft, manipulative, texture/textile products. Even at about the age of 2 this can be found as Jen mentioned in playdough, paints etc.

Water play, sand play, beans or rice play. Messy fun things like that. Even a pile of dirt or mud is always a hit with my crew since young. Trucks in sand or dirt for boys, can't get better than that!

I say you know what works in your house as far as toys and your son. Don't over analyze kids will be kids and they love to interact with their parents. I like my children to have time they play by themselves but I usually start them off with something to engage them first. But also a child under 2 its mostly mommy/daddy time that he will love the most.

my son is 3, and he goes from one thing to the next.
not even playdough keeps his attention for more than 20minutes.
but i think that is just a stage. i think they will grow out of it.
my DS also likes to color. not just in coloring books, but on plain white paper. it gives them some creativity.
i tried putting toys away & taking them out also. my boys are too smart for that!! LOL!

Also- behaviour related... what do your (did your) sons play with at just before/around two?
DS seems to be bored with toys and only play with them when dh or I are with him. I've tried the circulation route to no avail. It would be easy to go out and buy him a whack load of toys, but I don't think that is necessary (counter-productive even).


We have that problem as well. I think they have to be *taught* how to play. Katherine gets frustrated playing by herself because she doesn't understand what she's supposed to be doing WITH the toy. Not because she's slow or stupid, it's just hard for a 2 year old to think of stuff without suggestions. So I try to make a point to sit down with her and show her how to brush her doll's hair, or making zoom noises with the car, hopping the stuffed cat along the floor while meowing, or things like that. Then she's much more likely to play with it for longer. I think she just has a hard time getting going because if I take 2 minutes to do that, then she's fine for 10-20 min. or even longer. I just have found I need to take initiative to engage her and help direct her in play since there aren't always older children around to do that, and sometimes i guess after touching a toy and looking at it she is like "what do i do now?" and then wants to go touch something else that's new that she hasn't exhausted possibilities on. lol

:-DHere are a few ideas that my kids have loved.

Play-Doh, even if they eat it it won't hurt them.
Finger paint
Crayons and paper
This age is great for doing things that involve "touching" things. Different textures, colors, etc. Don't mind the messines, just put him in his high chair in his diaper. When ds was that age I put a little plastic pool in the kitchen with some rice and dried beans in it and he loved to shovel and scoop it around. If you can give him something to get his hands in he will be happy.:-D

I agree. Look up "Sensory Play" some kids need it more than others.