Locked room for breakables when grandkids stay?

Well, I don't know about grandchildren breaking things but we have a largish display cabinet which is full of china, not valuable but much of sentimental value.

My namesake (a baby one) just flew in through the patio door, avoided being caught and scuttled behind the cabinet. All has gone quiet. I've left a trail of seed and hope it comes out again but otherwise we're going to have to empty the cabinet and move it to find the little bird.
We're waiting patiently to see if it comes out.

The most precious things in my life are my family, and my relationship with them.

Stuff I want to look after, I put away when they were small. It has come out now they are adults.

We are all entirely relaxed in each others company - no stress.

Put not out!

I just move anything of high value high so they can't grab it. My GC stay over frequently and we look after a 2 year old twice a week. Don't have any problems, if a little pair of hands grabs anything they shouldn't, I just take it off them with a Thank you and remove it from their orbit, they have to learn they can't play with everything, the same as we did to our own children.

My mum NEVER ever changed her house or out ornaments away, nor did her mother, my dear Granny, we were all told what we could or couldn’t touch or play with, quite firmly, and we did as we were told in their homes, as did our children.

My friend used to put blu-tack under her Beswick ornaments, it works!
My first husband broke more than my son or grandchildren ever have.

Everything Kittylester and Tuliptree have said 👍👍

Yeah, just unlock the door and let the children out when its time to go home 🤭

Why can’t you simply place things above the reach of the three year old? Surely a ‘look but don’t touch’ lesson is the way forward.

Thanks for all your thoughts. To be fair, they often visit and it hasn't been a problem, but those visits are just for the day. Also, the three year old is going through a testing boundaries phase. And no, not a mansion ;-), just a 3 bed house. So packing things away might be a good solution/compromise. And yes, already have child locks on the medicine cupboard.

Oh goodness no - locking the dgc out? How will they ever learn to be careful? I’ve nothing I value more in my house than the grandchildren. As others have said, anything really precious put away. I’m in the midst of downsizing and have realised that much of my sentimental value stuff really means nothing compared to the life I’m gojng to have as a result.

ViceVersa

imaround

I am going against the grain here it seems, I would lock the door. Or at the very least, set boundaries that the room is off limits. I just don't want to invite more trouble than I want right now, IMO. No sense in it.

I would feel the opposite of it were just a quick visit or even one overnight stay.

I'm with you. I think you have to set out boundaries from the start, but given that the children are so young, locking the door seems the most obvious and easiest solution to me.

Yes, I would do the same.

We have signs up saying that 'Ma and Pa's house, Ma and Pa's Rules'

We have very few - that's their parent's job. Xx

to ViceVersa post

I agree.

Not that much different to making sure all household cleaning products and medicines are all out of reach.

Good grief, how much breakable stuff "in reach" do you have?
I agree with JenniRen. Simply put it all out of reach - unless you live somewhere palatial, which is so large that a locked room isn't even noticed!!

imaround

I am going against the grain here it seems, I would lock the door. Or at the very least, set boundaries that the room is off limits. I just don't want to invite more trouble than I want right now, IMO. No sense in it.

I would feel the opposite of it were just a quick visit or even one overnight stay.

I'm with you. I think you have to set out boundaries from the start, but given that the children are so young, locking the door seems the most obvious and easiest solution to me.

Talk to your son & DIL and see what they think is the best way to handle things. Your grandchildren need to be taught not to touch without asking first.

I am going against the grain here it seems, I would lock the door. Or at the very least, set boundaries that the room is off limits. I just don't want to invite more trouble than I want right now, IMO. No sense in it.

I would feel the opposite of it were just a quick visit or even one overnight stay.

*any precious breakables are put above their level

We have little ones who are constantly barging around energetically, any precious breakables are put their level but some are within reach and if I or their parents see them go for it we let them hold it for a second and explain how careful we have to be with nana’s things, then we distract them and put the thing back. Have so far lost the beak off a pot robin and a pot cat lost her head, but tbh I break more stuff than they do, am a terrible klutz.

Mine have broken more since they were adults! Mostly glasses.

Either move things up above the child's level or pack the precious breakable away when they stay.
Unless you live in a mansion of course in which case lock the room.

I must be lucky because none of our lot have broken anything much except the odd glass tumbler by mistake. My kids didn’t ,either. Don’t need to tell them.

Looking to the future, you might need to rethink the location of your collection or you'll be a nervous wreck whenever the family visits!