MOMS ~ NEED SOME ADVICE!!!

We are a time-out family. I have a 5 year old, twin 4 year olds, and an almost 2 year old so there is almost always someone in time-out. The most important part of any discipline method is consistency.

Deal with the fits. Stand firm.
If they throw fits and you cave, they are going to know they can always behave in that manner.
Don't let them.

Playing listening games to get your child following your voice is a great ( and non in your face) way to begin helping your child learn to listen to you.
i.e. You say "We are going to play a jumping game! " Make it sound exciting
" Ok, every time mommy says JUMP we jump as high as possible." Ready.....JUMP" Hooray, you did it!

Etc. This game can be played a million ways like stop and go. See how fast you run to momma.
The key is to say the same word or short phrase every time you want them to do a certian thing.

It sounds silly, your child will love playing the games with you, and next time you hear them getting in to who knows what call out that phrase like "Run to momma" and watch them come running.

Also giving choices in moderation is helpful. We are going to go to the grocery store, do you want to wear your red boots or your brown shoes... You still get them ready and they feel empowered

Every child and momma is different, so different things work for different people. But, those are a few of the things I have found that have helped. Good luck!

http://www.examiner.com/motherhood-in-flint/what-to-do-when-your-kid-is-the-one-screaming-the-store
http://www.examiner.com/motherhood-in-flint/how-do-i-get-my-child-to-listen-to-me

Yah - and the kicking and screaming on the floor thing... IGNORE. Or as someone else said - walk away. Once they figure out that particular behavior pushes your buttons - that's it!

My son goes to timeout as well and he will be four in a few weeks. He knows where it is and goes usually without a fight. If he fights me, I take him there. If he gets up, (not so much anymore since he realizes that doesn't work), I carry him back. He only goes for a few minutes, I think the general rule is one minute for every year of age. Afterwards we always talk about why he's there and he has to say he is sorry for what he did. For temper tantrums, as soon as he starts, I tell him 'Well, there goes any chance of you winning now'. He has thrown a few REALLY good ones but afterwards I always say 'Did that get you what you wanted?' He says no and he pretty quickly realized, it doesn't work and usually only results in him getting in trouble. We also take away things like candy or if he isn't picking up toys, we will take away the toys and he has to earn them back. But we also try to focus on the good, he gets stickers for good behavior. He usually now is good all the time, save for every now and then so he doesn't get stickers just for that but because he is so small and such a picky eater, we give him toys for eating all his dinner or going on the potty. When he gets ten, he gets a little toy.

The closet or the basement works well.*

Actually, time out works well in my house. She knows she's in trouble when she gets to the "naughty chair" stage of pushing it with me. I also, to reinforce the punishment, take a favoured toy away which she needs to win back. Eventually she'll catch to the, "What's your favourite toy, my spawn of purest evil?" question and not respond truthfully. XD





*That was a joke. Please, no need to call Child Protection Services on me.

There a few of us 'multiples' mums on here, glad I'm not the only one! It is tough sometimes isn't it?

yep time out, and ignore him during any temper tantrums. I am a mom of 3, 2 of which are now teens but I never spanked any of them and they all turned out great respectful children. I did time outs when they were that age, put him in a place where you can see him but he has no interaction, and when he throws a fit do the same thing and ignore him during it, and the timer on the timeout doesn't start until he gets quiet. It gets easier:))) good luck

Love and Logic is a good method for raising kids. They have lots of books, seminars, etc.

Use logical consequences as much as possible. Be empathetic. Give choices. Do not make things a power struggle. How do you respond when someone says, "Do this NOW!" Personally, I don't like to be told what to do. Depending on the personality of your child, say does s/he get really engrossed in a task or playtime? S/he might need time to wrap things up before switching gears. If you want to raise respectful children, you need to be respectful to them. But since there are thousands of books on parenting, I would suggest you read some books.