How can I teach Zoe not to leave her toys on the stairs?

[sollers]

It wasn't a problem with my daughters as a) they could have things explained to them and b) they didn't follow me round clutching toys that they then dropped on the stairs. The item in question was a short section of knotted rope that she is very fond of, particularly when I throw it for her, and she often brings toys up in the hopes that I will play with her instead of working, changing clothes etc.

I stepped on it coming down the stairs yesterday, it rolled under my foot and I came crashing down more or less on my behind. Specifically, right thigh down, which connected with the step. I now have a painful lump the size of a duck's egg and walking is very, very painful. The down side is that I'm actually on holiday this week; but on the other hand it doesn't stop me from working on Old English, doing some crits for the Historical Fiction group. doing some work on "Leila and Lily" and practising the ukulele, so it's not a total loss.

Comments

[legionseagle]

I suppose you can't try practising the ukelele at her every time she does something with her toys you don't like?

[kotturinn]

That invites the question - how long would it be before ukelele practice became impossible :-)

[sollers]

Unfortunately she doesn't dislike it. And negative reinforcement needs to be contingent and immediate for her to realise what it is that is being disapproved of.

[kalypso]

Tabitha does understand an angry "No!" or "Stop that!" and usually modifies her behaviour. Rosie may or may not; she doesn't adapt. So I presume Zoe is a Rosie, in which case I don't know what to advise (but will be interested if you find something that works).

[sollers]

Sometimes she doesn't; sometimes she does and gives me a hurt look. The trouble is that I never see her leaving her toys on the stairs - I find them later. Not usually the way I found her rope, fortunately, but an agonised-sounding squeal from a squeaky toy can be very disconcerting.

[kalypso]

I got an agonised-sounding squeal from Tabitha this afternoon when I trod on her tail. I'd told her several times over the past couple of days to be more careful with her tail, because it doesn't show up well against the carpet, but unfortunately this time I failed to spot it. So I had to do some crawling (literally) to demonstrate that this was a sad accident and I was very, very sorry.

[gwendraith]

It's tricky as she'd need a negative response at the time she left anything on the stairs to make the connection, I'd have thought. Hope you feel less bruised soon :(

[sollers]

The lump seems to be going down and walking isn't quite as agonising. I think I'll probably be staying put tomorrow as well, though.

[sollers]

Update: mending slowly. I seem to have strained a muscle as well as the bruise, so am doing a lot of keeping still. At least this morning it was less agonising when I stood up than yesterday