Can I use a small electric shock to deter my 4 year old from having outragous tantrums?

Question

My 4 year old has a really big voice which he uses to his best abillity. This question is a (little tongue in cheek) I thought while I was keeping calm during one of his episodes that some sort of device attached to a 9v battery (small rectangular one which if you stick on your tounge gives a small shock) could, once a certain pitch or loudness has been reached delliver a small shock to one of his fingers. Also do you think it might have a chance to sell in the shops?

shocking dog collars! Eureka!!

I have just used the prototype on him and it did seem to stop the tantrum atfer the convulsions had stopped. I will let you all know after further tests how we got on.

Well, thank you everyone, what amazing responce. Over the last few days I have been testing my device on Sam my just 4 year old with amazing results his tantrums have almost entirely stopped. The shock doesnt seem to cause any lasting discomfort, it just seems to send a mild tingle, I have of course tested this on myself on different parts of my body and it really is very slight. It has also seemed to have a positive effect on my nearly 2 year old. I have placed a slightly modified device within her nappy so that when she has a wee it becomes instantly uncomfortable, she has allready shown a preference for using the potty. For parents like me this could mean the end of tedious hours spent "praising achild for good behavior, ignoring the bad". I have also met with representives of Mothercare on Friday and they seem very interested but were worried about the publics perceived dangers of using electric shocks to change a childs behavior. I will try to keep you all posted as it develops.

Answer 1

Not only does this have a market for toddlers imagine the potential market for teens! Admittedly it'd probably need to have a bigger charge and therefore a bigger battery but I'm sure this could be disguised as an i-pod or somesuch. I was also thinking that maybe you could combine this device with a generator powered by movement. Think of the advantages - the kid keeps moving to charge up the 'i-pod' battles the growing tide of childhood obesity and keeps his 'device' ramped up in case of misdemeanours. I also thought incorporating some sort of loud siren may work to prevent the little beggars from copulating.
May I be the first to congratulate you on being the first Yahoo! Answers millionaire?

Answer 2

I'd suggest talking with your son in a calm and collected tone. Make him feel as if he's a 'big boy.' Offer him a treat if he listens and behaves.

You'll most likely arrested for trying electric shock treatment, so I wouldn't do that. Pay attention to him, but not when he is throwing a tantrum. Ignore him completely. If you have other children, I would suggest paying positive attention to them if they are being good while he has a tantrum.

Operant conditioning would be a great way to teach him to behave himself. You have to make sure that he recieves a treat immediately for a good behaviour. You don't have to punish him at all. Just ignore him. If you do it often enough, in all sorts of conditions, you will see that he will come to associate being good with getting a lolly and other such things. When he learns that tantrums won't get him anywhere (never raise your voice at him) that's the point where you only award him a treat every now and again so that he continually does the good behaviour as he doesn't know when he'll get that treat.

The important thing to remeber here is to never act like a child yourself. If he's bad, don't give him a smack or yell at him. Speak in a calm voice, and get down to his level. Don't loom over him like a giant. But don't bribe him either. That will make him spoilt. Make sure that he's not aware of what you are doing.

If he draws you a picture one day, tell him it's lovely. Stick it high up on the fridge, and continually praise him for behaving so well. Tell him that if all his pictures are so beautiful, there will be no fridge left.

You could also try a star chart. Every time he helps you and does something well, you can stick up a gold star. Tell him that every 5 stars he gets, he will recieve a chocolate frog, or another favourite treat. If he is bad, you take a star down.

Works wonders for young kids like that, and will still work for a good few years in the future. Also, you may want to offer him a place at the table to eat with you if he doesn't already. If he throws tantrums about his food, then once he starts eating, make sure to praise him. Make him feel like he's just walked on the moon because he managed to finish his dinner.

Anyway, I hope that helps.

E-mail me if you'd like. I'd love to find out how it turns out.

[e-mail]

Answer 3

OMG PEOPLE!!!!! She was joking for goodness sakes!
Oh and you can say no parent should think this way joking or not. The truth is if your a parent and you have never thought even for a second something like this you are lying to yourself!
This why so many mom's are going crazy these days. People are so quick to pass judgment on you if are not the perfect parent. Everyone who is a parent has felt or done something they probably shouldn't have that's part of parenting. My son was such a horrible infant that I didn't really like him...I loved him of course but I didn't like him.. now he is 2 and he is the best thing in the world.
==========================================
If you think your a perfect parent......ask someone else. If they don't lie so not to hurt your feelings you might get a surprise!!!!!!!
You people who mentioned child abuse and child services need to get a grip, get off the computer and go parent your own children!

Answer 4

Forget tongue-in-cheek, more like foot-in-mouth !! lol
there have been many an occasion where i have dreamt of having such a device, but to use on my husband, and not on the kids!!!
I have 2 little terrors, and they can shout and scream for England, but I've noticed if i use positive methods to reward good behaviour (sticker charts work a treat) and ignore the irritating (but not so bad) stuff, it works just as well as an electric shock!!
P.S. if you have managed to manufacture one, could i put in an order - extra strong - for my husband.

Answer 5

I think the words child abuse come to mind. My daughter is 3 and is very trying most times. I would NEVER shock her for the sake of getting her to stop. Try walking out of the store or leaving the place where you are. I have many times left my grocery cart and left the store. When they are that out of control nothing will deter the behavior. Especially not shocking. Why not try it out on yourself a few times first. If I saw you I would be the first to call social services on you. You dont deserve to be a mother if this is your thinkin on how to control your child. Look into the parenting class Parenting with Love and Logic. Sounds like you could use it.

Answer 6

WHAT THE ??????? ARE YOU MAD???? Electric shock treatment for a child??? You say that your question is tongue in cheek.
One answer suggested that you are joking and that we shouldn't pass judgement - look if someone jokes about drug abuse; 9/11; sex with animals and so on of course people are going to react according to the subject matter of the question, But joke about shocking a child and REAL parents are going to react by accusing the asker of child abuse. What do you think we are going to do?? Say " ha ha that's funny?"

Electric shock - jeeeeezz!!!!! Whether you'd do this or not is irrelevant - that mere fact that you allude to it is enough to stir some of us up.

Please!!

Answer 7

best method is ignore and distract. With the exception of a very few children with serious mental health problems or learning difficulties (most of these even will respond) this proves to be effective. Tantrums are essentially about 2 things: the child is 1) getting attention 2) exerting control. If the child is not getting enough attention then make it very clear to them that they can get attention by doing something fun in a nice way. Let them know that they will be ignored otherwise ( You HAVE to stick to that rule - until they see that you do stick to it, the situation will not improve. ) Allow them to exert control by for example allowing them to make choices. This is a good way of preventing tantrums by helping to help build their self esteem. this way they are less likely to see an instruction as something to fight against.
finally shocks will increase the tension in the situation which is what the child is trying to acheive. you will have let them win.

Answer 8

Are you for real? NEVER use a shocking device on a child! That's child abuse. I am a parent of two children. I let them go out into the field and yell and throw tantrums to their heart's content then let them back in the house. They soon realize how useless their actions are.

Answer 9

You can't give a four year old an electric shock. Surely you can defuse the tantrum in other ways. I have a 3 year old, who thankfully has now grown out of tantrums in public. But at one point I considered not taking him anywhere to avoid him rolling around on the floor shouting and refusing to behave. I have found a quick few words at his level, usually threatening to throw all of his toys in the bin and paint his bedroom pink work. The odd few times he does play up in public, I now just have a quick chat with him and he responds positively.

Answer 10

I think if you do this the child pretection services will be on your doorstep very soon after.
At four he should not be throwing tantrums of this kind anymore and you need to find out what is causing them and stop this behaviour in an adult but child friendly manner. Try putting him in his room and telling him when he can calm down and speak in a normal voice you will be happy to talk with him.