How to Effectively Discipline Your Toddler

In this article I will teach you how to discipline your toddler effectively. Read on to find out more!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 Small chair or step
• 1 Stubborn Toddler
• Lots and Lots of Patience!!

1. First of all you will need a small chair or step (I just use a step stool I purchased at Wal-Mart for about $9.00 + tax). Put the chair/step in a spot where your toddler can't play with anything or see anything interesting (ex: facing a corner).

2. Second, when your toddler does something wrong (not every little thing but repeat offenses of little things and bigger problems), explain to him/her (in a firm voice) that it is not acceptable for them to do {insert wrong doing here}, and that when he/she does it they have to sit in the corner on their naughty seat. Put him/her on the chair, facing the corner of course.

3. When they are in the chair tell them they can't get up until you come and tell them they can. Set a timer. The rule of thumb is 1 minute for every year of age and I find that to be very effective. For example: my daughter is 2 years old, so that means her time outs are 2 minutes long. I know it doesn't sound like a lot of time to you, but to a toddler it can seem like an hour. If they get up before the time is up explain to them that they have to sit back down for the whole time out since they got up with out your permission. Make them sit down and reset the timer. Trust me they will get the picture.

4. When the time is done go to your toddler and look them in the eye. Tell them that they can get up now, but if they do {insert wrong doing here} again they will go right back in the naughty seat. Give him/her a kiss and hug and tell them you love them. Now this won't work over night but after a week or two of it your toddler will get the picture and when you threaten a time out they will stop misbehaving and listen to you.

Tips & Warnings

• This technique works best on toddlers 2 and up, but your more than welcome to try it on a younger one.
• If your toddler is crying during the time out do not give in and let him/her up because that will let them know that crying will get them out of it.
• Don't put them in time out in their room... They will just play and like their "punishment" and want to misbehave even more.
• Do not use a playpen for time out because they will associate it with punishment and if you need to use it for some other reason they will think they are being put in time out for no reason.
• Do not put them in time out for every little thing they do wrong, they will just get burned out on time outs and they will no longer be effective.

[shpresam]

on 7/27/2009 My son is 3 years old and I've been using the naughty chair for about a year now. Everytime I would put him on it, he would yell and scream and get up. FINALLY, he's listening and waits on the chair. I think it's because I've been more consistent and every time he would get up, I'd put him right back on, until he got the picture!