How do those of you who are or have been parents of toddlers get them to stay in time out? Before the holidays it seemed we were making big progress with this. Eli needed reminding, but for the most part, he'd stay in his corner or on his stair for the two-minute time out without problem. Now it's as though he's never been required to do this before. I know what our parenting philosophy suggests, but it's not working right now, so I'm looking for suggestions. And while I would love to hear from all parents, I'm particularly interested in the 'tricks' for boys. I'm realizing more and more that boys and girls are completely different 'animals', and though girls have their challenges too, I think this is one area I'll struggle with more for Eli than I will for Maddux.
So bring it.....what do you have for me?
4 comments:
Well, Tyler (2 years 4 months) was like Eli in the fact that he would sit on the step for the full two minutes. However he could care less that he was sitting there, since he could still watch everything and in a sense interact with Carter. Carter also had a hard time leaving Tyler alone in time out. So now time out is in his bedroom, isolated from everyone (in his crib actaully). This seems to be working better for him. I was hesitant to do this as I didn't want him to associate his crib as a punishment. But he hasn't at all. He still loves to play in his crib in the morning and after naps. My only problem now tho is when we are somewhere else. He refuses to stay on the step or the time out place. I have come to holding him by his shoulders to keep him put. Probably not the best idea. When I was first teaching him how to stay on the step it took a full hour of me returning him to the spot before he stayed there for one minute - so there is always that. Sorry I am not much help, just now that you are not alone in the boy staying in timeout.
OH Girl ... we just battle it. I think Eli is just getting used to being back in a routine with you that he is pressing his boundaries. It should go back to normal soon ... it did for us once the chaos is over.
When Ryan will not stay in time out we went back to the crib. Lights on, lovies out and told him if he couldn't stay where we put him he would have to be in the crib. We would stress being a big boy and that it would be over. We also used a timer again. But, we eventually found out that he was just testing us to see if things were the same now that the chaos was over and life was back to just us. Now time outs are more of toy time outs. And we take the ALL away for a time being and make him sit in the middle of the floor. With him taking just one away doesn't work. So they all go for a time period. It seems to work with the boy who loves to play! We have also used other things instead of time outs ... like taking away books before bed or other things that he really enjoys doing that are normal every day routines for us. Sometimes mixing it up works wonders.
Maya has those moments too. We have a blanket in her room that I usually make her sit on when it's 'time out' time. Sometimes she turns up the toddler attitude and screams 'no' and/or tries to run away from me. I tried to isolate her in her crib once but she immediately hiked her leg up like she was going to try to climb out. I didn't want her to figure out that she could do that (and try that during nap or something) so I nixed that idea and just decided to take her toy basket out of her room and put the gate up. I usually just leave her in there until she's done screaming (I tell her she's got to stay until she gets a happy heart).
I'm fighting the very same battle with Liam (2y3m)!! And it drives me to my wits end somedays! On one of my more desperate days, I was feeding Danika and Liam was screaming and kicking and throwing toys - it's like he's all of a sudden gotten incredibly jealous of Danika. Timeouts weren't cuttin' it - plus Danika was getting upset because she was a hungry girl! So I went into Danika's room and closed and locked the door and basically just ignored the tantrum going on outside in the hall. So I've been removing myself for bad behavior now, and it seems to work much better. Of course, when we're out and about, that doesn't help...but I guess it's just one step at a time. I know this probably isn't too insightful for you, but I just want to let you know how relieved I am to hear that my Liam isn't some crazed lunatic! I was starting to wonder if something was "wrong" with him...but it sounds like it's just a 2 year old boy thing - whew!
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