Those of you that have cared for older children, YOU must be my guides!
Okay then, naughtiness - the kind that starts to rear its head as they approach two - what to do about it? Bobosso and I are looking for any and all advice, although it's worth bearing in mind that neither of us are super keen on corporal punishment, and that we're wondering whether it might be good try and minimise physical intervention full stop, although we are aware that that might be a) impossible and b) wrongheaded. Oh yeah, and we're also not very keen on shouting.
Things we are currently dealing with
1. Dangerous antics purposefully designed to attract our attention: spinning (in places where spinning isn't very wise), climbing (precarious surfaces/unstable objects), and attempting to fiddle with plug sockets (don't worry, we always keep the guards in place).
2. Not listening when told not to do something. This isn't a consistent problem, but if he's in the right (or should I say wrong) mood, he can be very difficult.
I'm not trying to suggest that he's a horribly difficult kid, 'cause he really isn't, but but his energeticness combined with the above behaviour can be very wearing. And, well, he's at that age when all parents start to worry that there child might turn out to be one of those super unruly children trapped in a horrid cycle of bad behaviour begetting negative responses that in turn beget more bad behaviour. I know that's the worst case scenario, but I'm a parent and I get all irrational, and, you know, I've encountered those poor bloody kids at nursery and the local library and I've seen how the other parents keep their little ones away from them and the downtrodden look in Mum and Dad's eyes…
[smacks own head!]
…Back to the post…
So what do we do at the moment? Well, we try and get him to listen to us by using a particular tone and manner, failing that we tend to resort to distraction, physical intervention, or removing any item that he's using as a mischief making tool. Course sometimes, when we're at the end of our tether or trying to stop him doing something that will result in physical injury we shout.
I should stress that for us discipline isn't just about dealing with naughtiness as and when it rears its head. We take a holistic approach that emphasises the attempt to create an atmosphere of love and calm at all times, and I'd say we're reasonably good at it, and I'm happy that we're doing the right thing, it's just that I'd like to hear more about the nuts and bolts of discipline. The ways in which other Barbeparents address instances of bad behavior. |
