My 3yr Old Won't Let Me Workout
BuffyKicksButt
Posts: 95
So I have a 3 yr old girl who refuses to let me workout. I have tried including her - I even got her own little weights. Tried doing a dancing routine like Zumba ,etc. Its always the same she is into it for like 2 min and then stops and grabs onto my leg or is weaving in and out of my legs or needs something every 5 min. I have resorted to getting up at 5 am so I can work out in peace but find that this is leaving me with less sleep than I need and wears on me after awhile. Unfortunately waiting until she goes to bed doesn't work either as she refuses to go to bed without me and it ends up being a massive battle. I work fulltime and my husband is stay at home during the day and has a business at night so basically as soon as I'm off work he is working and I have the kids. Any suggestions?
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you are the parent... she should be doing as told- just my opinion0
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I take my workout shoes, workout clothes, dvd's and weights to work and do my workout before I leave work and pickup my son. I am a librarian, so it works out pretty good to have the space and dvd player in the school. I also run on the treadmill at home while he plays. He knows not to touch the treads. I wish you luck. I know how frustrating it is to want to workout and not be able to because of a clingy kid.0
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Looks like you only have two options... get up at 5 and find a way to stay energized throughout the day (or possibly going to bed earlier at night) or breaking the habit of going to bed with your daughter at night so you can take care of you at night and get that workout in.0
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Maybe get her a special toy that she ONLY gets to play with on the days when you get to work out in peace... like a REALLY special toy with flashing lights and noises and glitter and ponies and pink ruffles (some, perhaps not all of the above...) that will make her crazy with joy!
As soon as she bugs you, you take the toy away for the rest of the day, end of story. Maybe even something super-cool that she only gets to play with DURING the workout? 0 -
You need to learn to make your 3 year old obey you. If you don't do it now, it doesn't get easier.0
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My 3 year old used to do the same thing. She still likes to watch and occasionally joins in, but it doesn't last very long. After a while, she's realized that when I work out, she needs to find something else to do for however long I'm in front of the TV and she has to deal with it. I think you should just be firm with her and tell her when mommy works out, she needs to go play in her room or wherever else she normally plays and then when mommy's workout is over, you two can play together. Hope it works out for you. 0
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Chasing/playing a three year old is a great cardio workout. Looks like it might be a good time to introduce her to soccer. I have five children, and I run at 5:00 AM or after they are in bed. Not always an option.0
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I had a dog that would never let me tie my shoes, I had to tie him up in the backyard just to get out the door in the AM. I know you can't do that with your kid, but maybe working on the first hurtle : getting her to go to bed on her own. That seems to be something that might lead to better time management. Like one thing that would benefit everyone.0
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Can you try to work out after shes in bed or get up earlier in the morning to get the workout in before she gets up?0
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small child at my mums aerobic class 2-3ish is in his pram for the majority of the class but is aloud to come join in when they get to certain bits, which seems to work well.
unfortunately 3 year olds attention span not great, what about just doing ten minutes at a time 3 times a day or something, I don't know what tv for kids is like these days but im positive the teletubbies used to have a secret exersize portion which included singing and dancing.
we have 5 and 6 year olds at our martial arts class but it very much depends on the kid.
could get her one of those three wheeled scooter things and go for walks with her, see a lot of people doing that these days.
Good luck keep at it 0 -
I have a 3yr old daughter and 6yr old son and my husband works nights. My daughter always wants to be by my side. If I workout with them around they either have to do their activities they love to do and I let them join me sometimes (the cool down and some reps). My daughter loves to color so I plop a coloring book and some blank sheets so she can draw and color. My son plays with action figures so that keeps him busy. Other times I throw on a show or movie for them to watch while I workout. They are not allowed to leave their area (sofa or table) while I'm working out w/ a DVD or treadmill. It seems to work. Practice even on the weekend for her to choose an activity and stick to it. Another idea is to feed her dinner while you are working out. If that doesn't work I would wait until she goes to sleep or stick to an early morning routine. Hope you find some ideas to keep her busy.0
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you are the parent... she should be doing as told- just my opinion
My thought exactly.0 -
At 3 years old she should be able to play by herself for a 1/2 hour. I'm sure you are doing everything you can as a Mom, but maybe you are doing to much. She needs to learn to be independant and not cling to Mom all the time.
That said, you could look into Mommy & Me classes at the YMCA or local pool. Those can be quite a good workout.0 -
My kids are a little older, 5 & 8 but I'll sometimes put on a movie in another room or I'll tell them that I'm doing this for XXX minutes, show them on the clock how long and tell them they can do it with me or go find something else to do. If they try to interupt I'll tell them I'll deal with whatever in XX minutes. Unless, of course, someone is bleeding! LOL0
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She's beating you at multiple battles - the workout battle and the bedtime battle. With all the kindness in my heart, you have to start winning some or you are going to be too drained for anything that is important to you, especially if you plan on having any more children.
I have a 3 year old and a 6 year old. They both understand that working out is important to me and helps me be healthy and strong for them. I give them plenty of attention before I start and they know that I will sit down with them for a bit when I'm finished.0 -
Yep..sounds like my kid. I've had to resort to waking up early and working out before he gets up. This also means I have to get to bed early enough so I don't feel tired. My kid has never given me a hard time going to bed so I'm able to get to sleep on time.
I think you have few options: Either her bedtime routine needs to be fixed/worked on, or informing her that when you exercise it is mommy time and that you need some space. Sometimes if my son is up I will get him started on an art project or puzzle and then head to workout. More often than not I am interrupted or distracted so I think getting up earlier is the best option.0 -
Do you have a jogging stroller? Nothing like using the weight of a 3 year old to tone your arms while running. :-) I would think it would be very difficult to keep the interest of a 3 year old for any other kind of workout. I have to either workout at 5:30am or during my lunch break.0
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You need to be the parent and set some ground rules. I set my 3 year old son up with something to do before I get started and he knows not to bother me until I am done. Crayons/markers & coloring books, action figures, puzzles, a movie. I get him a drink and he takes water breaks with me.0
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If he's a stay at home parent, maybe he should keep her occupied while you get a workout in. I have 4 yr old twin boys and they know that first thing in the morning, mommy exercises. I get them breakfast and my dvd goes in. If I have to, I put a movie on in their room for them, but they are usually okay playing with their action figures for 45 minutes.0
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what happened to nap time. When mine were little they took a 30min to 1hr nap and that time was great me time.
edit:sorry missed the part where you work days. What about play dates with friends for an hour a 2-3 times a week.0 -
you are the parent... she should be doing as told- just my opinion
My thought exactly.
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Double ditto. If a three year old is dictating your schedule now, wait till she's a teenager. LOL0 -
My kids love "Just Dance" 2 and 3. It has fun songs and it's just like doing Zumba. Maybe find some songs she likes and pick those. Or, work out when she takes a nap. I don't think it's fair to say that you are the parent and she should do what she's told. Sometimes it just doesn't work that way. Be creative and you will eventually find something that will work. Chasing her around will help too I'm sure. Or maybe just work out for 15 minutes at a time at different times of the day. It all adds up! Good luck.0
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I am a mother of five. My youngest is 2, three in two weeks. They sure can be hard work and REALLY test you alot. My third child was VERY demarding like yours. You need to be strong and dont let them walk all over you. Going to bed with her can be "easier" but in the end you are making it harder on yourself. Most of my kids have adjusted to bed time easy but my fourth child took a long time, research and many different routines to figure out something that would work. It took my over a year and a half of hard slog to get him to go to bed. But if you want t exercise without lack of sleep you have to figure out the sleeping routine and let her get grumpy at you and don't give her something everytime she wants it. It's going to and has made your life harder. She is doing this because she hasn't got your attention but you need to show her this behaviour isn't good behaviour and your will give her your full attention but at the moment it's mommy time. I am by no means perfect and it's hard work whether you have five or 1 but you do need to stick to your guns and show her your mom not her0
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Sounds like me too... I work fulltime during the day and my hubby during the evenings until 3 in the moring! so when I get home its literally a switch! So its hard to balance not only my schedule but also my hubbys ( because afterall he is working hard to provide for his family and also needs his sleep!) So when I get home I try to work out as much as I can, but my daughter is a 15month old and a little easier... She knows when its time for momma to work out, I place her in her play pin, give her toys or her sippey and most of the time she'll fall asleep for 30mins! woo hoo and when she wakes she'll watch me work out and laugh ( ha ha probably because I am moving to Zumba). I try to put her to sleep at reasonable time for me to sleep and for her dad. So I completely understand, start setting a routine now before it get worse!0
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I have great empathy for your busy life style. I have 15 yr, 3 yr & 11 month old boys. My husband and I are just 'sails passing in the wind' or whatever the saying is. I am currently on mat leave, so I can go to the gym at 4 p.m. for an hour before my husband heads off to school / work (he is in school in the evenings and then works full time nights). When I am back to work, I will walk in the door when he walks out.
I walk a ton with my little kids in a stroller (but I am home during the day right now). 3 is a difficult age, they are starting to get that they need to listen, but they have no attention span, so they don't always grasp not interrupting others & their activities. My suggestion would be as others have mentioned, and work on the bedtime routine first. A book I used (that is an extremely short read too) is titled The Sleep Easy Sleep Solution: The Exhausted Parents' Guide to Sleeping. It uses a firm approach that allows for meeting your child's attachement needs. It assists with setting a positive sleep environment as well as sets out guidelines according to age for when a child should go to sleep. For a 3 yr old, it talks about how to discuss with your child the new sleep approaches and get them 'on board' with the plan. I used the book when my son was 9 months, and the next one was 7 months. I was really pleased with the results and they were going to bed with no fuss and sleeping through he night within 6 nights.
I get my children into bed between 7 & 8 and then have time to do work out dvds. I usually get it out of the way right away and then have time to veg on the couch and just enjoy some 'me time'.
Good luck with the approach you choose to meet your fitness needs.0 -
a babysitter0
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I like the chase and play advise, for just the sake of it, I wore my heart monitor when i played with my daughter yesterday and i burned like 350 cals in 20 mins of horse play and running around the house. A total surprise to me!0
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What about joining a gym with a daycare?0
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strap her to your back and use her like a weight training vest!0
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Coloring book, crayons, toys, a cartoon dvd, anything like that works. Not trying to be mean, but you cant let a 3 year old dictate what you can and cannot do. It will only get worse. I can get my workout done at home and I have a 4 yr old and a 6 yr old. Give them something to do for 30 minutes. Tell them mommy is going to be busy for a while and to go play. Your the boss not them! Good luck!! 0
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