My nine-year-old still literally gets into everything!! From soap messes, sugar or flour “accidental” spills, just anything and everything. I can’t even leave him alone in my living room or bathroom for 2 seconds?! Help!!
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Help a mama out and respond anonymously on our forum. My 9 year old still gets into everything: Advice?
Find a hobby that he likes.
Yep I have a 8yr old the same so much hard work 
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Sounds like hes bored. Get him some activities.
My 8 year old daughter is almost the same! She’ll clog the toilet, use all the shampoo and things like that! She sees a therapist and is ADHD which she sees a psychiatrist for! I guess this is part of the adhd! They get bored and their minds wonder
9 yrs old? He should know better by now
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Teach him to clean up after himself, messes happen.
Also if your nine year is still making toddler like messes, does he have other issues going on? ADHD? Sensory issues? Is he really bored? Underdeveloped motor skills? I leave my 10 and 9 year alone, they’re fine for the most part, my 9 year has ADHD and he’ll get into stuff if he’s not occupied.
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Are there appropriate consequences when he does get in to things? Does he have to help you clean up? Do you stick by your word? Are you consistent? Not throwing shade just asking the questions I hate to ask myself.
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Sounds like he needs discipline and structure. Also try setting up times throughout the day for him to spend on activities (color at this time, Legos at this time, play a game with him at this time)
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I’d look into him possibly having ADHD
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Make him clean it up himself. … also get him a psychological exam.
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ADHD, my daughter is 17 and still has issues
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Talk to the Dr
Sounds like ADHD
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If he is getting in to stuff like that maybe he’s just looking for stuff to do experiments with? My niece would always make playdoh or slime or even putty with stuff similar to those items…. Maybe take and hour and throw some stuff together and have a science party making something fun 
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He’s begging for arts and crafts time! Make some slime!
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My 7 year old is the same way
9 sounds like a parenting error I have a 5 and 8 year old that doesn’t do that they know they will get spanked and have to clean everything up. Spank his little butt
Hmmm. 9 is a little old to be doing this. Maybe speak to a Dr. My children (4 children) all stopped doing that around 5. I am also extremely strict though.
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Maybe he needs to be tested.
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tie him to his bed…
JUST KIDDING
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My now 10 year old was same way. Well we have chores and she would have to take her chore money and replace what she wasted it took one pay day of hers and she stopped. Sounds unfair maybe to some but it worked
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Maybe he needs structure and consequences.
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I would definitely speak to a doctor about this. That’s pretty old to still be making messes like a toddler and there may be something underlying going on. In the mean time, I would set some pretty strict consequences. No tablet, tv, take away something important to him until he cleans the mess up himself.
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Buy him a science kit or chemistry set, Or bake, start showing him simple cooking recipes.
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Set parameters and consequences. ADHD is a lame excuse for being destructive and yes I probably just offended tons of you still my opinion.
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Do you make him clean the mess? Time out or good ol fashion ass whooping
Make him some sort of sensory play table with small plastic tubs to keep the messes to one space. Give him his own supplies to play with and teach him how to clean up after
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- My 9 year old is adhd and it sounds like it. There’s several kinds of adhd, not just hyper.
- Get him some sensory toys and have a time/area for sensory play. ( kinetic sand, play dough…)
- Make him clean any messes he makes, just supervise/direct him cleaning.
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My 11 year old does stuff like this sometimes. He has ADHD and is not as mature as kids his age. Have him evaluated.
Does he have any consequences for his behavior?
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Sounds like ADHD. My 10 year is the same way. When she doesn’t take her meds.
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Creative and smart people are messy. Yelling and beating won’t work. Get him into painting or building stuff. He’s probably an entrepreneur
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Like others have said, it could be ADHD. I have one of these sneaky little characters and he cannot be left alone for a minute.
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Make him clean everything up! Take away privileges and get locks for things you don’t want him in.
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If he can make the mess, he can clean it up. Yes, I understand with him being a child you may have to help him. But making him clean up after himself forces him to take responsibility and deal with consequences of his choices and actions. Be firm and stick to it. He will learn.
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ADHD could be the cause
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bored seems 
do those Walmart kits w him. make the dang glitter unicorn slime lol etc
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Ya he should definitely not still be doing things like this at 9 . I would look into adhd
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What’s wrong with a lot of kids now days? Parents forgot what a belt and switch is for!
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Samantha Comfort see?!!!
You need to make sure she does not have development issue and if she is she needs disaplem
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Teach him to clean up his mess that’s what I did to my daughter once she found out how hard it was to clean she stopped
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Have u been making him clean it up? Give him consequences for misbehavior so no electronics no tv no nothing.
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My grandsons do same thing now and then. I’m not sure at any age if boys don’t make messes!
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Hahahahahahaha my 12 year old nephew had to go to the hospital cuz he got his finger stuck in a cap. Drs told him to be glad it was a finger and not his…lol i dont think it ever stops.
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My kids are the same way especially when watching those craft videos, as much as I hate the mess, it keeps them busy. It’s been a long year and a half of being home. I encourage being curious. We have a huge stainless steel shelf with arts and crafts for everything. My kids are gluten free so they are always trying new things in the kitchen.
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All it can be is a rambunctious little kid who gets bored easily , probably very bright to, let’s stop with the ADHD Diagnosis every time a kid is restless or into things
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Take him out and let him burn that energy. Keep things he isn’t supposed to have up so he can’t get to it. It could be ADHD or it could be a young boy with a ton of pent up energy. He’s old enough to be put in some type of sports. That will help, too.
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My son is 6 and does it every opportunity he gets. It’s sensory processing disorder for him. It’s not “bad” behavior. He literally cannot help it. But I supply him with things that he is allowed to play in like this. Sounds like your boy likes dry things. Mine likes, wet, soft, squishy. I give him playdough, slime, stress balls and stuff. Maybe offer a small Rubbermaid tote of sand or kinetic sand with small objects for him to dig for.
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At 9. He’d get a good whooping… I I doh know bout this ADHD stuff… some kids just plain mischeivous and we know that
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Making messes is fun, but cleaning them up is not. Have him clean up his messes and surely he’ll stop making them before long.
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I don’t think that is normal, might want to seek medical advice
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Part of adhd is impulse control issues. My daughter is the same way
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I would suggest having him tested for ADHD along with other development and behavioral issues. This isn’t “normal” behavior for a 9 year old…
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Stop sticking labels on kids for goodness sake. That follows them right through their lives.
Hes a boy…they get into everything all their lives. He makes a mess…make him help clean it. He doesn’t need punishment he needs occupied. Get him out the house . Give him stuff to pull apart and try to fix…old bike …old lawnmower …they love to mess with things . They love to figure out how things work. Its not badness its how their brains are wired.
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sounds like my 2 daughters who are 7 and 12 and they blames each other
*THE living room or *THE bathroom
As for the issue at hand could be plain old curiosity
Maybe he needs more stimulation
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Take heart. He will leave that behind-- and become a teenager! 
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I am so thankful I grew up in the 70s and raised mine before all this crap started with making excuses for today’s kids lol.
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I had my kids into sports all year. It helps so much with their energy frustration and concentration. I did not allow them to get into gaming maybe an hour a day. They were outside boys and were always busy. They are 21 & 24 years old. I promise it gets better. We had mishaps too one threw a ball at the other and broke the window. His first job he saved and paid for a new window. My other one was supposed to be home doing homework and got hit by a car on a one day old bike that me his dad and my family chipped in to buy a really good bike. He was fine but ugh. Boys just give you a run for your money. God Bless🙏
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Must be a boy thing because I’m still going through that with mine who just turned 10. I can’t leave anything in the bathroom because I can’t see what he’s doing 
Ummm discipline… set rules and boundaries and follow through with consequences.
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I have the same problem. My youngest boy is a whirling dervish of destruction and mayhem. Mostly accidental, but it’s an everyday thing. Boy Mom’s are well conditioned for handling chaos. Lol.
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Has anything changed recently that all attention isnt on the child?
Uhmmn so does my 16 yr old.
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You don’t set rules…that’s on you…my two kids never did that bs over the age of 2-3!!!
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One day you will miss it, it sounds like he is bored and all of those things are fun for a kid to play in. Maybe try getting him some clay, or crafting items, maybe little experiment kits to keep him busy
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My step daughter is the same way. I think they’re just bored & curious. He needs more things in his schedule where he can explore and try new things.
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Have you tried sitting down with your kid and hitting them
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My son going on 17 still gets into everything. It doesn’t end ever
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It sounds like maybe they’re bored or looking for attention. Growing up my siblings and I never did any of that nor have any of my kids. I would maybe structure their day more and set clear consistent expectations and consequences. I teach my kids from a young age that if you make a mess you clean it up and depending on how old they are I will help clean more of their mess with them.
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9 yrs old? Have you spoken to your doctor? Maybe a developmental delay or something else.
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Make him start cleaning up those messes he’s making. He’ll get tired of it.
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Rules!! Boundaries!! Consistency!! Parents always want to say “it’s so cute” when they are little. Then has problems like this, that they now cant control.
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Any other concerns with ‘cognitive learning’…?? Some children have a condition called Dysphraxia which can see them being clumsy, trip overish, drop and spilling things more often than you would expect.
This may just be the little quirks that make your child the very special and unique person they …
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Be patient 9 only last A year 10 may be worse!
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My 12 year old daughter does this crap
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My nearly 8 year old is like this, its not deliberate usually, she is currently being tested for dysphraxia and sensory processing. It could be hand eye coordination or just the texture is relaxing 
repetition, showing them and letting them learn how to do it, and if mess has been made they help clean up, mistakes happen, show them the right way. Also, count to 10 before reacting, its frustrating at times but it can get better. Also, maybe do some sensory play, like kinetic sand or water play and keep it to one area, we have some activities we only do outside or bathroom or on a tray, a little mess is okay but not the whole thing, giving that space where the sensory mess is allowed has really helped. She knows where its allowed and it happens a lot less now. Consistency is the best thing for it.
Keep going 
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Don’t allow him in kitchen.
Have cleaning supplies on hand
Sippy cups to avoid messes
Have his eyes checked and maybe he’s dyslexic ?
Kids r really messy and so reaching them early to clean up after themselves is essential. You can have a sticker chart positive reinforcement seems to help.
Sometimes if they r too anxious or on edge they can be more clumsy. 9 yr old still need naps.
Does he have adhd? That could be the issue… My 9 year old step daughter does this. Shes admitted to it all because shes either bored, tired, wants attention, says shes “too grown up for regular toys”, or she will just simply say she doesnt get enough attention and that she has been the only child for so long that she doesnt like it. 
its an every single day all day long thing with her and she never listens. We have severe rules and she cleans up her messes but it just never ends because she doesnt listen. You might wanna get him checked for adhd. When kids that have it are bored… Its a recipe for disaster. They will mess the whole house up, get into everything and eat all day just to waste over half of it and say “im not hungry” or “my stomach hurts” but then beg for candy later. I do agree with the above comments too. More sensory activities or outside time and or crafting stuff to do.
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Who cleans up behind these messes? If it is you, he is going to keep right on doing it.
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Give him things that are ok to get into. Kids need “yes” spaces to satiate their curiosity. He’s seeking sensory stimulation. Give him some bowls of flour and sugar to play in, in some area of the kitchen that’s easy to clean up. Let him play and experiment, then lead him in cleaning up the mess after he’s done.
Putting a large bed sheet on the kitchen floor of a great way to help contain the mess.
Encourage him to ask you for things he wants to experiment with instead of getting it without help.
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It’s called discipline. Its falls under the category of parenting. If you start now, it might not be too late.
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Help a mama out and respond anonymously on our forum. My 9 year old still gets into everything: Advice?
Help a mama out and respond anonymously on our forum. My 9 year old still gets into everything: Advice?
I am speaking as a Caribbean Mom…a good licking and all that non secnce done.
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My daughter was exactly the same at that age, she is diagnosed with Autism and ADD now, keep an eye on other behaviours and maybe worth speaking to a doc, there may be more to it than just being a little monkey, although, he could just be being an inquisitive little monkey lol, best of luck and door locks and bells will become your friends xx
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Try introducing sensory play. Give those little hands something else to do will majorly save your sanity.
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I allow my child to do this, i buy extra so she can make a mess. We clean it up afterwords however she has sensory issues and likes the feel of soap. Also she has a rare brain disease so I am learning about her everyday… Recently she liked the smell and texture of her dads soap he found out one day oooopsie and he was upset finding an empty bottle but then realized she liked it and buys extra now so she can have a bottle of her own. Since I’ve done this She doesn’t get in to other supplies I have. We also put the flour up on the top shelf now due to she knows we can make play dough out of it. Lol 
but that’s okay. Craft day when we have supplies! 
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Texture and sensory play, very important for children. Get some containers with lids and make a set up area with a small table for him 
I do it with my littles all the time.
Does he have adhd? My 9 year old girl does and she is the same way but also has some sensory stuff along with it.
The child needs indoor & outdoor activities. Painting, pottery, games, swimming, soccer, basketball. Everyone is different. Some people/children are messy, some are neat. Try not to stress about it.
Reminds me of my now 14 year old. It lasted all the way up til a couple years ago. Idk what his deal was or what to do about it. I used to be like “Dude, why?” Just know that I feel your pain!
Sounds like he enjoys sensory play. I loved it at that age too and still do at 27. Get shaving cream and other sensory activities that he’s allowed to do.
He could have some sort of sensory issue and isn’t being stimulated enough with the toys that he has. We are going through this with our 5 year old. Anything he can make a mess with he will. We’ve started giving him multivitamins, omega3 and probiotics. Have been helping a bit but we’ve also purchased some sensory/fidget toys.
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I “designate” lots of messy playtime. Dumping out the box of lego in the middle of the living room floor… Fill a bin with rice or popcorn, add tractors and dump trucks, some measuring cups etc… same with soapy water, make a big bowl with lots of bubbles, and let him “wash his toys” - we do this in underpants outside 
I get bath paints and let my son squeeze and splatter it everywhere. I let him go barefoot in the mud…. All of this helps us.
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My 11 year old is the same way! I can relate! And tho we are still trying to get to the bottom of her behavior issues and correct diagnosis, I suspect it is an ADHD thing. She is also so far diagnosed ODD (she has major outbursts and anger issues)
My 9 year old is always doing something whether it’s mixing lotions in the bathroom, putting on ridiculous makeup, to painting and getting it all over the table.
From what I’ve learned from raising two adult children so far is we really can’t have nice nice things until they are at least teenagers. Young people are curious about how things work and want to exert their Independence. It’s challenging but unless they are causing harm you might just have to let him explore. Teaching him to clean up the mess after he makes it. That’s the key! He may be less likely to make a huge mess if he knows mom isn’t cleaning it up! Be strong and consistent. And for the love of God don’t hit him! These parents suggesting that are ridiculous!
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Send him outside. Give him time limits before he can come back inside.
When he is inside find as many mentally and physically stimulating things to keep him busy.
Also tell him, if you keep making unnecessary messes, I am going to keep adding extra chores. It doesn’t diminish their curiosity, but it makes them pause as they go about things so it’s less arbitrary messes.
I also used to give my son a daily fitness routine when he was extra antsy and getting into everything. He would jog a certain amount of time or distance, jumping Jacks, etc just like if he was playing a sport. They need to burn energy.
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