Disciplining my 2 year old son...

United States
November 6, 2009 12:22pm CST
Does anyone have any tips for disciplining my 2 year old son? He knows right from wrong and he still likes to push his luck and test the waters...When I spank him it really has no effect on him, and time out for him is just a joke! What are some effective things I can do?
4 responses
@rosey19 (951)
• Philippines
14 Nov 09
I have also same problem with my son, it's even worst than yours because whenever he is angry of anybody he will throw anything he is holding or see. What I did first was to spank his both hands and telling him not to do it again because it is not good. Of course he will cry of pain but the effect just lasted a short time he keep on repeating the same actions. So I read in the internet on the stages and development of babies and applied what is being said there. Spanking doesn't do good to him what I did was to let him express his feelings and do not mind him because if I will contradict or comfort him, the tendency is he will react. I've noticed that when he is done crying or nobody mind him he will just go to me and find comfort and sit down on my lap. That is what i've noticed to him. I hope it can be applicable to your son.
• Canada
2 Apr 12
Yes, I've that just ignoring bad behaviors is better than spanking or yelling at my son. Letting him cry it out works but sometimes that's hard to do. Since we'll living in my parent's house so when I ignore him, he'll just turn to grandma. Any advice on discipling a 4yr old.?
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
31 Dec 09
well another thing you could try is a time out. not in his room (too many toys!) what i used to do is make our daughters sit on the stairs (not a very exciting place!) when they didnt listen. you could also put a chair in the corner. maybe this will help!
• United States
6 Nov 09
Having to sit in time out was always an effective way of disciplining my children. They hated it more than anything. I would always have them sit where they could watch everyone else having fun, but not see a television or anything like that. They would have to think about what they did and the consequence of it. All the while seeing their sisters and myself having fun. Now that they are older it doesn't work, but it did back when they were your son's age.
• United States
7 Nov 09
I have a 2 1/2 yr old girl. Spankings just seem to make both my kids think it's OK to hit. The only one who can put her in time out and have her STAY consistently is my husband. (she is STARTING to do this for me...) The ONLY thing that seems to work for her is for me to say "Do XYZ now or..." For example "get right in your carseat and buckle OR I'll leave you home" (of course your "OR" has to be something they don't like or that is possible) Also rewards, like today I had to go to the store, so I went right before a playgroup in a community gym that they like--"OK, be good in the store, stay in the cart, if you are good, we will go to playgroup. If not, we are going home" that's the only type of thing that seems to work for her, give her something to work for rather than punishment. (the punishment would be when she doesn't get it) She also *hates* to be left out of outings---so I base whether or not she gets to go somewhere on how she is acting.