What is the best and most affective punishment for two year olds?

Question

My two year old son is getting to the point where he isnt listening and wants everything his way and now or he screams and hits. He spends alot of his time whinning instead of being nice????

Answer 1

This behavior is normal. Some people suggest time outs, but I think 2 is a little young for time outs. Instead, try a "time in." You remove your son from the situation, and take him somewhere else (bedroom, dining room, stairs) and sit with him on your lap and cuddle him, rock him, shush him, until he's calm. Once he's calm, you can have a nice discussion about what happened, that he made a bad choice, and what to do next time.

BUT, if he hits you during a time-in, give him one warning (OUCH, that hurts. Please don't hit mommy). If he does it again, tell him that since he's hitting you, you're going to go into another room until he feels better and can treat you properly.

I've also used the "wear 'em out" strategy, and created a tantrum spot on the rug. When my daughter would throw a tantrum, I'd show her the spot on the rug, and tell her that if she was going to throw a tantrum, she should lie down there and kick and scream. It was amazing how that took all of the fun out of her tantrums.

Now that she's a little older, I often just tell her that I can't understand her when she talks like that (if she's screaming or whining).

I hope one of these tips helps! They don't call them the terrible twos for nothing.

Answer 2

I have 2 year old twin girls....I find the most affective "punishment" is when I tell them to go and sit in their "princess chairs"because they are punished.I use the word "princess"for the chair so they wont connect that chair only with punishment.Sometimes when they know they did something wrong they'll even go sit there on their own..it works fine for me,plus I got the advice from a child psychologist who's a friend.And by the way to all those that say a child shouldnt be punished...you are very wrong!!A child SHOULD NEVER be hit or beaten in any way, but punishment is a must from 2 years and up otherwise your child will never learn discipline,never listen to you,disrespect you and grow up to be a brat!

Answer 3

Yes, he is two. All of these behaviors are totally age appropriate. Small time outs will work to make him understand what behaviors are unacceptable - I usually suggest putting them in a corner, away from their site of you, for about 1-2 minutes. Then take him out of the corner and tell him why he was there. You will have to continue to do this over and over. He is not going to get it the first time(or the second, or the third). The key is consistency. If he is doing something that you do not like, address it with him at once. If he is throwing temper fits, or screaming - taking away the audience instead of punishing him sometimes does the trick faster than anything. With the whining, you have to remember to teach him to ask appropriately for what he wants from you. This takes some time, but if you give in to his whining, he will continue this behavior forever.
Outside of having my own three children, I am a therapist and have been working with children and their parents for well over ten years.

Answer 4

our 2 1/2 year old is going thru the same thing. We give him a time out in the playpen (because he doesn't know how to climb out of it) Once he is quiet and calm we go over and talk to him why he was put there and what we expect.

Everytime he yells from the playpen at us he gets an extra minute and he has learned that.

I think it is just a stage of life because he was never this way until about 2-3 weeks ago. Nothing in his life has changed.

Answer 5

I just went through the terrible two's, and now terrible three's! Enjoy your son and his "personality", remember he is two and just a child....let him be a child. When necessary, I am a firm believer of timeouts--age=to number of minutes. My son is now almost four and we do still practice timeouts. When timeout doesn't work, it does fizzle out, especially if you suggest timeout and they agree, I've learned to try another means of punishment. Lately, I take away something that he enjoys, either for the day or week. At this time its movies, eventually I'm sure it will be his bike, x-box, cell phone,....car. My motto: don't sweat the small stuff.....and, No big deal. I've read somewhere that a child that age will only retain the first 4 words out of your mouth, the rest is gibberish

Answer 6

He's a boy.

You need to get a book on parenting first of all and read up on parenting types. Raising a child is a full time occupation not a sometimes thing. Instilling discipline is the key to getting control. All that time out stuff is unrealistic. Addressing each and every outburst appropriately and timely without giving in EVER is how you establish consistency and discipline. DO NOT PUT HIM ON MEDICATION. A boy is a boy. A boy is not a girl. Don't treat him like and expect him to act the role of a girl. Also read up on child gender roles. Activities, Activities, Activities. Decrease some of the sugar in his diet. Where is the father? What's his input? You had better get a grip on him now before he gets a grip on you later.

You may also want to get his eyes/ears checked.

Answer 7

When he hits try to grab his hand and tell him that's not nice in a firm tone (not yelling), time outs work for me we have a chair that is JUST for time outs. A kid doesn't have a very long attention span so only put them in for a minute per year of how old they are it takes time but if you are consistent it does get better. And remember it does get better in time. My kids are older now but they all wanted all the attention and if you don't give it to them the realize that it doesn't work.

Answer 8

I send my 2 1/2 year old to her room. No timer, she has to stay in there til she calms down and is ready to apologize. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes, other times 1/2 an hour, sometimes she'll even fall asleep in there. It gives us both a chance to calm down after whatever misbehavior was going on. I don't lock or even close her door, I just tel her to come out when she's ready to "be nice" or "stop back-talking" or whatever the offense was. She usually comes out and apologizes to me (without being prompted) and wants to give me a hug.

Answer 9

Time out works best with my 26 month old

Answer 10

Try time out for 2 mins since he is 2 years old ,but once time out is over sit down with him and make sure he understands why he went to time out and if he will do it again it will go right back to time out!