My current 2 year old is very stong minded and finds herself in time out a lot these days, but not for throwing fits but for NOT listening, doing something I told her over and over again not to do, hitting her sister, pulling her sisters hair etc. She sits there for 2 minutes. I TRUELY believe she is getting the message, slowly.

AN example……….. The like to pull the back cushions down from the couch and I don’t allow that cuz then they jump up and down etc so last week, new rule each time they pull them down automatic time out no warnings. My 4 year old has gone to time out once and hasn’t done it since……. my 2 year old kept doing it one day this week and I kept sending her to time out, then she’d do it again later and back to time out (2 minutes each time) now the past 2 days she hasn’t done it at all. I don’t know if it’s just a coincedience or she learned but I do think time out works.

Stick to your guns as hard as it is and if she keeps getting out just keep putting her back and yes ignore her, she’ll get it, she’s smart, she knows what she’s doing.

two is hard, I think everyday I’m glad this is my last one.

Sorry so long!

Time out time…in the beginning, I think 1 minute per year is too long. It takes a few months for them to get it, be able to sit there for any amount of time without you holding them and wait for you to take her out. I started with holding, but no looking at her and no talking. Just a strong arm. After she calms a little, do the talk & take her out. Then when she starts being able to go to the spot and you don’t have to hold her there, walk into another room so she can’t see you – she’ll probably call for you and even go find you. Walk her back. Just keep on progressing. My 4yo & almost 3yo can now handle minutes, but it took a while!

One thing that I found does work most of the time is when we’re driving to a store, I tell my guys what we will do when we get there. “After we get out of the car, we will hold hands when we walk through the parking lot. We always hold hands in a parking lot, yes? (yes.) And then when we get into the store Porter will sit in the cart and Carson will walk and hold onto the cart, yes? (yes.) Are you going to run in the parking lot? (no.) Are you going to run in the store? Etc…I repeat this at least 3 times before we get out of the car. And I start talking what will happen when we leave the store – I’ had too many embarrassing meltdowns in the middle of parking lots!

So you could enforce the returning to the car, when we get to the car, you will climb into your seat, yes? (and she must say yes.) Gosh, sorry this turned long! I feel for you just coming into the toddler phase – I’ve been in it for 2 yrs and it is the worst job I’ve ever had.

Sounds like my daughter…and the fours are way worse! We call them the terrible twos, triple threat threes and the fearsome fours. Not sure what the fives will bring…except, of course, the further erosion of my sanity.

oh charlottes a perfect 4 year old. 2s were just behavioural like trisha is going through for us, three was like insanity, but four is “flawless”

Also don’t underestimate the power of reverse physcology. If I want my boys to do them, usually “don’t you eat that. No don’t eat it. You don’t want to eat that” works. Works for getting dressed and undressed.

P.S. One idea is a star chart and if you want to know more e-mail me… info@tinytotswithstyle.com