[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference moira::parenting

Title:Parenting
Notice:Previous PARENTING version at MOIRA::PARENTING_V3
Moderator:GEMEVN::FAIMANY
Created:Thu Apr 09 1992
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1292
Total number of notes:34837

886.0. "REMOTE CONTROL ON VOLUME" by USCTR1::KDUNN () Mon Jan 23 1995 13:10

    I need some help with <VOLUME CONTROL>
    
    Almost humorously,  I'm about to develop a remote control that turns down
    the volume on children.  (Could I make a mint or what?)
    
    My sweet little girl has a set of lungs and voicebox  
    that certainly rival Pavarotti. Almost verywhere we go, particularly
    restaurants or other quiet places, my daughter's conversation
    is heard from all corners.
    
    I'm sure this is partly a result of competition for attention
    at daycare  and we certainly tell her 'shhh', but it's back
    up to max within 3 seconds.  She's always been this way, but it's
    starting to get to me (the bigger she gets, the bigger her lungs are!) 
    and I'm asking if others have this problem and how they deal with it.
    BTW, she is spoiled with attention and if doesn't get it gets louder.
    
    I don't want Alex to be intimidated by our efforts, but just want
    quieter moments.  I may also test her hearing later this spring,
    espcecially with her numerous ear infections early on.   
    
    Ideas/suggestions?
    
    Kathy
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
886.1MKOTS3::MACFAWNMy mother warned me about you...Mon Jan 23 1995 13:156
    Krystin has the same problem and so does my sister-in-law.  They both
    suffer from hearing loss due to continuous ear infections.
    
    Have you had her hearing checked?
    
    
886.2Volume controlMPGS::PHILLIn casual pursuit of serenity.Mon Jan 23 1995 13:449
Hi Kathy,
         Your story took me back a few years. My step-son, coincidently called Alex, 
used to get load. I'd turn down his volume. It was purely a symbolic gesture of
turning an imaginary knob on his chest. It worked a lot better than telling him
to be quiet. It took him a while to figure out he could turn it up. I suppose
he was about six then.

Peter.
   
886.3pssssst .... just Whisper!!CLOUD9::WEIERPatty, DTN 381-0877Mon Jan 23 1995 17:1529
    
    Jeepers, if you find an answer, I could use it ... times 3!  All 3 of
    my kids (BOYS!) get really loud at times.  I've done a LOT of thought
    about it, and I think part of it is "just kids", and part of it is the
    way that I've always played with them .... when I "get down" and play
    with them, I'm usually loud, growl at them, chase/toss them around,
    jump out at and scare them - that sort of play that tends to be LOUD in
    of itself.  
    
    The only way I've found to tone them down, and make them stay quieter,
    is to make them WHISPER!  Someone I once knew used to call their loud
    voice their "outside" voice.  I don't know how successful she was.  Of
    course, given 5 mins or so, even the whisper disappears, but it seems
    to give them a little time to let their eardrums settle down a bit so
    that when they stop whispering and start talking normal again, it's not
    quite so loud.  
    
    The thing that made them accept that they ARE loud, is when one of THEM
    starts bugging the other because he's talking too loud ... at least
    they finally realized that it's not Just Me!  
    
    Oh - and with the exception of the littlest one (who's also by far the
    quietest), they all hear Great!!  
    
    Or you might be able to point out to her WHY it's impolite to talk
    loud. (everyone's watching, they can't hear, they don't want to hear
    you etc etc).
    
    Good Luck!