They say there is a way to discipline a child quietly with a timeout without forcing them or making them feel like they are bad for their undesired behavior. I’m kind of stern and they are used to that. My husband says they wont listen unless he breaks the window with his voice. I’ve told him time and time again not to yell and he hasn’t lately; but I’m still dealing with the left over roost. Any clues?

I think a large part of it depends on the child themselves and your relationship with them. I have 4 girls and with the eldest, ven when she was a toddler of 2, I was able to explain to her why I was upset and what she had done wrong. She accepted her punishment and that was that. The second was totally the opposite. I would tell her off, and she would just shrug at me. She would do the same thing again and again, driving you only to distraction, So her punishments were more positive…..If she was good without being told off for two days, we’d give her a treat. It could be anything from choosing a DVD to watch to 20 mins on the computer etc. She responds very well to that. Also, lots of praise. The third, again, another kettle of fish. SHe is now 5 and you really only need to glare at her and she knows that she’s done wrong.I tell her that if she hasn’t finished whatever by the time I count to 3 thats it…..and it works…for how much longer, I don’t know!
The little one, is 2 and a half…so far, she gets told off by everyone in the family for everything. I try very hard not to shout and its really just a matter of stratagies. My husband, like yours can’t help himself and expresses himself through anger and shouting. The kids always have reacted better to me.
I do try to make the punishment fit the crime though….so if they were caught taking a sweet when they were expressly told not to, they are forbidden from sweets for a week etc, as opposed to just no TV. If ind that works, although sometimes, its hard to keep up with what the punishment was…however, I’m soon reminded by one of the girls sisters!

Good luck!

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