How do you discipline a toddler who thinks it's funny when you do?

Stacy - posted on 11/17/2009

In my home slapping hands and hitting is the last resort, my kids by all means are not perfect, but they are well disaplened, and well behaved 90% of the time. We put our kids in time out. It took awhile to get them to stand in one spot for time out, but being consistent helped. everytime they moved they were phisically put back. The first time I put them there, I got down to their level, and told them what they did wrong. The other times if they got out, I put them back without saying anything. When you take her out asks her if sdhe knows why she was there, and give her a hug. Tell her not to do it again. I'm sure she will, she a child.

Try a reward system for when she is good. Reward the good, disaplene or ignore the bad. I use to hit and spank, but then one day, after I spanked one of my kids they went right back to what they were doing. It's like I was beating them, and for what? that doesn't do anything for either of us. It hurt them phiscally for about a minute, emotionally for a long time, not to mention how bad I felt after words.

The most priecious jewel you can put around your neck is your childs arms.

We sometimes forget That we have to lead by example. If you hit to often, sometimes at all, it becomes a game. It may even become anger as time goes by. My mom use spank and all the above, I relized I didn't wafnt to go threw that with my children. I despised my mother, and could never turn to her. Think of what your parents did with you, and ask yourself how it made myou feel. See what could've been done different if anything, and go from there. Good Luck!

Rebecca - posted on 11/17/2009

The biggest problem lately is her continually doing something I've asked her not to (like swing a toy in front of my face), even when I give the warning, "If you do it again, I will take the toy away". That seems to prompt her to do it again, this time with an evil smile on her face.

Jessica - posted on 11/17/2009

sounds like my daughter! but my daughter isn't even 2 yet and if I smack her hand she laughs and smacks me back. I found that consistent time outs and having a firm voice helps. she had a problem with jumping on the couch so I would tell her no in a really firm voice and put her in time out. after a few times all I had to say was "no, do u want a time out?" and she would listen. but I figured I wasn't smacking her hand hard enough, it does need to sting. Just sometimes I cant do it. So I stick with time outs.

Abigail - posted on 11/17/2009

I have that problem too some times. How hard are you smacking her hand, It my not be hard enough. It needs to be enough to sting a little. But then there is a fine line were it may be to hard. Sitting my daughter in the corner and ignoring her crying about being there works some. When you put them in a time out you tell them why they are there then walk away and let them cry or scream and carry on till they decided to stop. If they get up just put them back until they realize they have to stay there. When time out is over talk to them about why they where there and how you expect them to act next time. Also we take away toys and she has to be good to get them back. It takes a LOT a patience!!!! Stay calm.