Every time they spill or drop something - they freeze

AngelaVA · 07-31-2015, 08:56 AM

Otherwise entitled: things that make me want to scream.

My children are 6 and 9. We have always gently instructed them in cleaning up messes and spills. Nothing new here at all. But yet, whenever they spill something, they freeze, they look at it, mystified, as if trying to decided where it came from and what they should do about it. Furthermore if something they are holding is spilling, they do nothing to correct the situation, they just stand or sit there, continuing to spill whatever it is while watching it with an expression I can only describe as "deer in the headlights". Why, why can't they react? I do NOT get it.

mamacat · 07-31-2015, 10:35 AM

The onlt thing I can think oif which Im quite sure you are doing already is to give directions in midst of the spill - quick pick up cup or go get a clean up towel and wipe it up

squiddles · 07-31-2015, 11:06 AM

I remember from my ECE years, that chidren have a much slower reaction time than adults.. I don't know when that changes.. .but for example, I think a preschooler might react to something 8 seconds slower than a grown up. (It's been a decade since I read about it, so I hope I'm not too far off)

eta: your kids are older than that, but they still might have a delayed processing time... and mine do the same thing!!!

Chaos Coordinator · 07-31-2015, 12:03 PM

Mine just continue spilling it gleefully, then toss the container and skip away singing.

AngelaVA · 07-31-2015, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamacat

The onlt thing I can think oif which Im quite sure you are doing already is to give directions in midst of the spill - quick pick up cup or go get a clean up towel and wipe it up

I do this

---------- Post added at 05:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:17 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by squiddles

I remember from my ECE years, that chidren have a much slower reaction time than adults.. I don't know when that changes.. .but for example, I think a preschooler might react to something 8 seconds slower than a grown up. (It's been a decade since I read about it, so I hope I'm not too far off)

eta: your kids are older than that, but they still might have a delayed processing time... and mine do the same thing!!!

One of my children has a disability that would give her delayed processing time but my other one...IDK...they both do it.

---------- Post added at 05:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:18 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaos Coordinator

Mine just continue spilling it gleefully, then toss the container and skip away singing.

I'm sorry. So it could be worse.

CJNeeley · 07-31-2015, 02:41 PM

Just a quick side note from a different point of view... While I can't say I do this over spills, I do indeed have a freeze type response to sudden stressors. I might manage to say "Oh no!" but mostly am physically frozen while my brain (and sometimes my mouth) races through what I should be doing but I can't make myself move in response. In practical terms, I *usually* get off to a delayed start... so it ends up being much more akin to having slowed reflexes. I have no idea why I do this but it causes less impairment than my family thought it would when I was growing up. I have noticed the level of startling surprise is key to whether I freeze up. If I can predict/foresee it going wrong sooner, I don't stall out and can respond or adapt. But if not... well, I freeze and stare and likely seem blank as I try to will myself to move.

mamacat · 07-31-2015, 04:32 PM

It might be a positive thing if spill ever involves broken glass

Chaos Coordinator · 08-03-2015, 04:10 AM

I was just joking

I mean I was telling the truth, but not meant in an "oh yeah, well..." Way.

I don't get it either. I've coached them a zillion times on what to do. They aren't that mature yet, I assume.

---------- Post added at 06:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:08 AM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJNeeley

Just a quick side note from a different point of view... While I can't say I do this over spills, I do indeed have a freeze type response to sudden stressors. I might manage to say "Oh no!" but mostly am physically frozen while my brain (and sometimes my mouth) races through what I should be doing but I can't make myself move in response. In practical terms, I *usually* get off to a delayed start... so it ends up being much more akin to having slowed reflexes. I have no idea why I do this but it causes less impairment than my family thought it would when I was growing up. I have noticed the level of startling surprise is key to whether I freeze up. If I can predict/foresee it going wrong sooner, I don't stall out and can respond or adapt. But if not... well, I freeze and stare and likely seem blank as I try to will myself to move.

Yes, it reminds me of when my 6yo ran away at the farmers market as we were getting on a "covered wagon" ride. A total stranger chased him down for me because I just froze. I knew I needed to do all these things, but I couldn't parse out what order to do them in.

rjy9343 · 08-04-2015, 07:28 AM

Ivy does that. I think it's that she knows to do something, she just can't get her brain and body to work together. It's beyond irritating, but I don't think she can help it. Or that she is even aware of what she is doing. It gets worse if James or I are already impatient and yell get a rag or whatever it is she needs to do. But if we help her with the mess, she snaps out of it.

ViolaMum · 08-05-2015, 05:23 PM

My kids do that, too. It drives me nuts! The only thing worse is when they scream at the same time.

AngelaVA · 08-05-2015, 05:29 PM

I'm sorry it happens to others but I'm relieved it's not just us.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07-31-2015, 08:56 AM	#1
AngelaVA Rose Garden Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 11,512	Every time they spill or drop something - they freeze Otherwise entitled: things that make me want to scream. My children are 6 and 9. We have always gently instructed them in cleaning up messes and spills. Nothing new here at all. But yet, whenever they spill something, they freeze, they look at it, mystified, as if trying to decided where it came from and what they should do about it. Furthermore if something they are holding is spilling, they do nothing to correct the situation, they just stand or sit there, continuing to spill whatever it is while watching it with an expression I can only describe as "deer in the headlights". Why, why can't they react? I do NOT get it. __________________ Wife to David since July 2005, Mama to Genevieve born June 2006 and to Gabrielle born February 2009

07-31-2015, 10:35 AM	#2
mamacat Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 26,473	Re: Every time they spill or drop something - they freeze The onlt thing I can think oif which Im quite sure you are doing already is to give directions in midst of the spill - quick pick up cup or go get a clean up towel and wipe it up __________________ ~Catherine~ Mama to 5: C W C J S And Grandma to 3: A ,K and baby C

07-31-2015, 11:06 AM	#3
squiddles Climbing Rose Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Beautiful PNW Posts: 1,409	Re: Every time they spill or drop something - they freeze I remember from my ECE years, that chidren have a much slower reaction time than adults.. I don't know when that changes.. .but for example, I think a preschooler might react to something 8 seconds slower than a grown up. (It's been a decade since I read about it, so I hope I'm not too far off) eta: your kids are older than that, but they still might have a delayed processing time... and mine do the same thing!!! __________________ homeschooling Mama, INFJ married to my BFF since 2006 A 2007, M 2009, K 2011 & E 2014

07-31-2015, 12:03 PM	#4
Chaos Coordinator Rose Garden They need freedom to just be fluffy mashed potatoes and feel their fluffy feelings. Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Up to my earballs in little boys. Posts: 20,259	Re: Every time they spill or drop something - they freeze Mine just continue spilling it gleefully, then toss the container and skip away singing. __________________ Joy Progressive Methodist Enfp mama to Sparrow, 10 Zion, 7.5 Baby Gus, 4.5 Preschool teacher. Musician. Timelord. Www.justicemercymayhem.wordpress.com "What you plant in the kingdom will surely grow, and what you grow with love will surely bloom, and the fruit of the spirit will come back to you."

07-31-2015, 02:41 PM	#6
CJNeeley Rose Bush Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 329	Re: Every time they spill or drop something - they freeze Just a quick side note from a different point of view... While I can't say I do this over spills, I do indeed have a freeze type response to sudden stressors. I might manage to say "Oh no!" but mostly am physically frozen while my brain (and sometimes my mouth) races through what I should be doing but I can't make myself move in response. In practical terms, I usually get off to a delayed start... so it ends up being much more akin to having slowed reflexes. I have no idea why I do this but it causes less impairment than my family thought it would when I was growing up. I have noticed the level of startling surprise is key to whether I freeze up. If I can predict/foresee it going wrong sooner, I don't stall out and can respond or adapt. But if not... well, I freeze and stare and likely seem blank as I try to will myself to move.

07-31-2015, 04:32 PM	#7
mamacat Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 26,473	Re: Every time they spill or drop something - they freeze It might be a positive thing if spill ever involves broken glass __________________ ~Catherine~ Mama to 5: C W C J S And Grandma to 3: A ,K and baby C

08-04-2015, 07:28 AM	#9
rjy9343 Rose Garden Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 10,090	Re: Every time they spill or drop something - they freeze Ivy does that. I think it's that she knows to do something, she just can't get her brain and body to work together. It's beyond irritating, but I don't think she can help it. Or that she is even aware of what she is doing. It gets worse if James or I are already impatient and yell get a rag or whatever it is she needs to do. But if we help her with the mess, she snaps out of it. __________________ Rita s IstJ Wife to my brilliant geek James iNtJ since 4/08 Mom to our angel boy Jay 5/08 our quirky miracle DD Ivy 6/10 mellow miracle DS Jacob 7/15 Often Please forgive my frequent typos Standing firmly on Team Lioness!!! Roar!!! I am ready for people to know I am a GCM find me on Facebook

08-05-2015, 05:23 PM	#10
ViolaMum Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5,542	Re: Every time they spill or drop something - they freeze My kids do that, too. It drives me nuts! The only thing worse is when they scream at the same time. __________________ Darcy married to my Photographic Genius (1/00) Mom to: Prima, Secunda, Tertia, and Quarta Youth and Beauty are fleeting, but the ability to bake a great chocolate cake lasts forever!

08-05-2015, 05:29 PM	#11
AngelaVA Rose Garden Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 11,512	Re: Every time they spill or drop something - they freeze I'm sorry it happens to others but I'm relieved it's not just us. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Wife to David since July 2005, Mama to Genevieve born June 2006 and to Gabrielle born February 2009

X vBulletin 3.8.3 Debug Information
Page Generation 0.10623 seconds Memory Usage 7,965KB Queries Executed 16 (?)
More Information
Template Usage: (1)SHOWTHREAD (1)ad_footer_end (1)ad_footer_start (1)ad_header_end (1)ad_header_logo (1)ad_navbar_below (1)ad_showthread_beforeqr (1)ad_showthread_firstpost (1)ad_showthread_firstpost_sig (1)ad_showthread_firstpost_start (4)bbcode_quote (1)cyb_flashimagebanners (1)footer (1)forumjump (1)forumrules (1)gobutton (1)header (1)headinclude (1)navbar (3)navbar_link (60)option (11)post_groan_box (1)post_groan_javascript (1)post_groan_navbar_search (11)post_thanks_box (11)post_thanks_box_bit (1)post_thanks_javascript (1)post_thanks_navbar_search (7)post_thanks_postbit_legacy (11)postbit_legacy (11)postbit_onlinestatus (119)postbit_reputation (11)postbit_wrapper (4)showthread_bookmarksite (1)smqre_editor_button (1)spacer_close (1)spacer_open (1)tagbit_wrapper Phrase Groups Available: global inlinemod postbit posting reputationlevel showthread	Included Files: ./showthread.php ./global.php ./includes/init.php ./includes/class_core.php ./includes/config.php ./includes/functions.php ./includes/class_hook.php ./includes/functions_notice.php ./mobiquo/smartbanner.php ./mobiquo/include/classTTConnection.php ./mobiquo/smartbanner/head.inc.php ./includes/functions_bigthree.php ./includes/class_postbit.php ./includes/class_bbcode.php ./includes/functions_reputation.php ./includes/adminfunctions_template.php ./includes/functions_misc.php ./includes/functions_post_thanks.php ./includes/functions_post_groan.php Hooks Called: init_startup cache_permissions fetch_postinfo_query fetch_postinfo fetch_threadinfo_query fetch_threadinfo fetch_foruminfo style_fetch cache_templates global_start parse_templates fetch_musername notices_check_start global_setup_complete showthread_start template_groups template_safe_functions template_compile showthread_getinfo forumjump showthread_post_start showthread_query_postids showthread_query bbcode_fetch_tags bbcode_create showthread_postbit_create postbit_factory postbit_display_start post_thanks_function_post_thanks_off_start post_thanks_function_post_thanks_off_end post_thanks_function_fetch_thanks_start post_thanks_function_fetch_thanks_end post_thanks_function_thanked_already_start post_thanks_function_thanked_already_end post_thanks_function_fetch_thanks_bit_start post_thanks_function_show_thanks_date_start post_thanks_function_fetch_thanks_bit_end post_thanks_function_fetch_post_thanks_template_start post_thanks_function_fetch_post_thanks_template_end post_groan_function_post_groan_off_start post_groan_function_post_groan_off_end post_groan_function_fetch_groans_start post_groan_function_fetch_groans_end post_groan_function_groaned_already_start post_groan_function_groaned_already_end reputation_image bbcode_parse_start postbit_imicons bbcode_parse_complete_precache bbcode_parse_complete postbit_display_complete error_fetch tag_fetchbit_complete forumrules showthread_bookmarkbit navbits navbits_complete showthread_complete
Messages: