Disciplining a 2 1/2 year old boy?

C

christina

New member
I am a single mom, dad is not in the picture, and I work a lot. My son used to listen to me, but now that I'm working 40 hour weeks, he won't. He won't take a nap, won't go to sleep at night, won't eat what I give him, won't clean up his toys, etc. I've tried the spanking, but it just makes him cry and try to hit me back. I just started with the time outs, but he won't stay where I put him. I don't know what else to do. Please help! I'll try anything. Thanks in advance. :)
He is in daycare 4-5 days a week for a year now, and is doing great.
 
If you have a play yard just set him in that for time out. He won't be able to get out and after two minutes, come back and get him. Tell him he has to listen to mommy or he'll go back in timeout again.

Please never hit your child.
 
You need to pick a consequence and stick with it. If you choose time outs, you need to place him in the same spot until he stays for 2 or3 min (stick with the 1 min per year of age). You also need to adopt a positive attitude when it comes to parenting. Make cleaning up toys a game, have a consistent bedtime routine and don't force him to eat. Kids won't starve themselves, just offer him healthy meals and leave it at that. When you are out and about, you need to tell him what you expect of him beforehand. Kids want to please adults, you just have to make your wishes clear.

Don't make threats that you won't follow through with. He will just see you as weak and undependable.

Toddlers are supposed to explore their limits and test you. It's how they learn right and wrong and what behaviors are ok.
 
You could try to use some mind tricks by telling him a little white lie like "if you don't behave im going to give away all you're toys" or "if you are bad santa wont get you shit" (course you dont have to use shit lol) even threaten to not take him back to the day care and leaving him with someone he doesn't like. Paddles are nice, they normally don't get used but they do create a nice intimidation image. Make him bring it to you when he doesn't listen. I guess its a matter of getting into his mind.
 
Well, your the mom. I think you need to spend as much time with him as you can. You are the mother. You need to have another discipline routine.
 
no no, no spanking please...

i think it has a lot to do with picking your battles. as you aren't there very often, you probably feel like your should 'be a good parent' and do lots of stuff all the time. but if you say 'dont do this, dont do that do this' all the time then your authority doesn't mean anything. you have to pick your battles. pretend you don't notice when he's doing something minorly annoying but when he does something that really neeedddss sorting out then put your foot down.

good luck (:
 
Take away toys or activities that he enjoys. Like take away television for a week. It's like grounding, but more effective in many ways. Another thing you could do is enroll him into a preschool or early childhood martial arts class to add structure and discipline to his daily activities.
 
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