Toddler "Discipline"?

The "Parenting with Love and Logic" series of books is wonderful. I believe they even have one specific to the Toddler Years.

Good luck, this age can be challenging!

A.

We were just looking at "1 2 3 Magic" in my ECFE class today. Many moms love it!

My advice? Two good resources:

http://www.cafemom.com/journals/read.php?post_id=256711

http://www.cafemom.com/journals/read.php?post_id=254571

Not sure of any good books, but be prepared for the potty training to be put off until closer to age three.

At this age the best thing you can do is redirection. If he's going for something he shouldn't, whip out something exciting, or start talking about something interesting to him. Even still with my 2 year old, if he's in a tissy about something, if I start whispering to him 'did you see the rims on Lightening McQueens tires? What color are his eyes? Wow! Look at his bumper!' stuff like that, and if I whisper, he quiets to hear what I'm saying, and its always enough to litereally make him forget what his tissy was about.

You can do 'no!' for more important things, dangerous things, however reserve that word for the more important or dangerous things, because if he hears it too often, it won't have any effect on him.

Again redirection is your best bet at this age. He's still going to be very emotional and extreme in his emotions, and not as verbal to communicate what he is thinking or feeling. If he's headed for something he's not supposed to, get his attention with 'hey! Lets get out the PlayDoh!' or 'Want to color!' or 'COme read this tractor book with me!'

Potty training at this age can be a GREAT thing for both of you! We practice elimination communication, and at your sons age he will pick it up very quickly, and it'll be a great bonding experience for the two of you. Basically its reading your child... watching his body movements to figure him out. I can still see instantly when either of my boys (5 and 2) need to use the bathroom, and there is no verbal communication, I can just tell by thier body actions.
www.diaperfreebaby.org is a great resource. I've trained two boys using this...m y oldest at 22 months (late start), and my youngest was in undies full time at 15 months. Good luck!

Boy, we could have our own web site on discipline alone, couldn't we? :) I'd check out any of the discipline books by Dr. Brazelton. There's also a great Q&A blog called askMoxie.com, which catalogues discussions on discipline, or you can ask your own question and her "panel" of readers can respond. They've provided a wealth of information on lots of topics. They are by no means experts, but a great way to sample the "tricks of the trade." Good luck!

I ignore tantrums, it's not being mean by using corpral punishment and it's not giving into to the child either. When my daughter was 2 she layed down on the floor at the mall and threw a fit and I just kept walking. Of course other people stared at me and I was embarrassed but it only happened ONCE. I've also at home layed on the floor myself and kicked and screamed and acted like a 2year old and my daughter starred at me like I was nuts and got the point in how she looks, I've also taken pictures of my daughter throwing a fit and showed her and she was so embarrassed. Techniques like that work really really well and your not being abusive or mean, but your addressing the problem.

An EXCELLENT book, which encourages age-appropriate TRAINING first, and THEN discipline if the training is disobeyed, is "To Train Up A Child" by Michael and Debi Pearl.

The Church at Cane Creek
1000 Pearl Road
Pleasantville, TN 37033

One piece of advice when shopping with yout toddler: If they start to fight having to get into the cart when you get inside the store, grab a cart from the outside cart correl and put them in the cart outside instead. This way if they throw up a fit and start screaming, it will not bother so many people and you will not be embarrased. Also, by the time you get in the store they most likely will be done throwing their tantrum. Then once your in the store, take out some fun small toys or a snack they can eat while you shop. AND FOR WHATEVER REASON............don't let them out of the cart, even if they are fussing. He/she will realize that no matter what, this is where I have to be when we are in the store. If you let them out once, they will expect to be let out in the future if they fuss enough. Happy shopping. Oh and another good book to read is Touchpoints. Written by Dr. T Berry Brazelton.

Sorry, I don't have any books for you, but I do have this piece of advice that I got from my professor of early childhood education that I'll never forget.

When her kids acted up in the store, she told them that they would have to stop or they would leave. If they didn't stop (because they'll test you right?), they left. They actually left! She said it's a small sacrifice to make. You can always come back and do your shopping another time, but it sends a strong message to the child.

From my college professor to you....hope it helps!

Try, "The baby whiperer for Toddlers", by Tracey Hogg with Melinda Blau

I really liked her infant books and have the Toddler book, I'm not done reading it yet, but I've found some useful information in it.

I really like the baby whisperer's toddler book, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers. Also, The Happiest Toddler on the Block is a good one.

Check out the "Love and Logic" books, its the method practiced by my nephew's Montesouri (maybe by all Montesouri?)
and has been very effective for him. I have the book but admittedly haven't needed it much (yet)
Good luck!