Time out isn't working so well for us, and we just started using it! Annabelle had dropped part of her banana on the floor while she was eating lunch. I told her before she got down that she needed to pick it up and throw it away into the trash can. Well, she ignored me, and she went about her merry way.
And, I know she understands exactly what I am asking her to do. So, I put her in time out, and I introduced the timer to her. (We use a dining room chair next to the buffet in our dining room for time out since our space is very limited). I told her that when the timer went off (after only one minute) that she could get up from the chair, but that she needed to pick the banana up off of the floor and throw it away OR she would go back into time out for another minute.
So, the timer went off and Annabelle went on her merry way to play. She grabbed her teddy bear and paci along the way. I told her that Mommy was going to count to three and that she needed to pick up the banana and throw it in the trash can before I got to three. Well, that worked wonderfully (as you can imagine). I got to three, and she just ignored me.
So, we started the process all over again. I took away her teddy bear and paci, and she cried about it in her drama queen way, but it wasn't a very serious, "I'm heartbroken," sort of cry. So, the timer went off, and again, she grabbed her teddy bear and paci and went on her merry way.
I asked her, "Annabelle, do you want to sit in time out again or are you going to pick the banana up off the floor and throw it away?" Guess what the little stinker did?!?! She walked straight over to the time out chair and climbed into it. She was determined that she was NOT going to pick up that banana.
Another time during this same discipline session, she ran over to the dining room table and grabbed the timer to start it herself. Again, she was more anxious to sit in time out than to pick that banana up off the floor.
Finally, after the 4th or 5th time, she got down from the time out chair, picked up the banana, and she threw it away into the trash can.
I was beginning to worry that my 21 month old daughter was going to win this battle after all. It all came down to who was more stubborn, and this time, Mommy won!
2 years ago
2 comments:
Maybe next time try counting to ten that way at least she'll have a learning lesson for real...counting to ten even if she doesn't comprehend what you wanted her to do. Ha! Ha! Maybe you could make up a chart with the actual numbers 1-10...Just a thought!
I love this time-out stuff. We just gave you a swift whack on the bottom side to get your attention. Most times that worked, however, there were a few moments when it didn't.
Oh now, I guess I'm going to be accused of child abuse!
With regards to the above comment by "grandmomma", I was a professional "whack-receiver" as a child. Time outs didn't exist in my childhood either.
That is actually kinda funny that Annabelle climbed into the time-out chair all by herself. Maybe she doesn't realize yet that it's a punishment. As she gets older and her time in the chair is increased, perhaps she'll start to understand a little better.
My Annabelle has hit the "Terrible Twos" a year early, so I have a feeling I'm going to be for some rough toddler years!
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