timeouts dont work for my 2 year old and he will not listen what can i do?

Answer 1

Just make a constant spot for time outs, and keep him in there for 2 minutes. if he gets up, put him back with out talking.

Answer 2

Call Nanny 911! JK! You should just be really firm about timeouts. Buy a timeout chair or pick a spot in your house that is only for timeouts. When he does something you don't approve of, redirect him (give him something else to do, distract him from the bad behavior). If that doesn't work, put him in timeout for two minutes (the rule is one minute per year). If he leaves the spot, keep on being firm and putting him back until he learns that's where he stays when he is in trouble.

Answer 3

Depends on HOW you are doing a time out - we used to do it by sitting the child in a chair in an open space where there is nothing else they can touch, sometimes facing toward a wall so there is nothing to look at and no one to interact with. Two minutes and on up for each offense of the day. No nothing BUT them - not even comfort devices.

Otherwise, he's old enough that you can say "Too bad, we were going to _________ but I cannot take a little boy who is?is not doing ___________ to ___________. Amazing how quickly that works.

If he's throwing his toys, take the ones he throws away and put them up where he can't get them. the first time, tell him if he throws things, he's going to have it taken away and not get it back for a day. Add time if he throws the things once he gets them back. Then, when he throws something, say nothing, just go pick it up and put it away somewhere up high that he cannot reach.

He throws a temper tantrum, pick him up and put him in his room and close the door most of the way. he comes out doing it still, put him back. Otherwise, just walk away and ignore it. when he calms and comes to you, then pick him up, hug him, etc.

Basically, reward the good behavior, punish the truly bad behavior and withdrawl all of your attention from them for the middle ground stuff. 2 year olds are at that caught between place. Getting independent, but still needing to be a baby sometimes. they still fully crave your attention but want to do it all, and right now.

Wish I could say it gets better. It does, for a bit. Then they turn 13! LOL!

Answer 4

Time outs don't work for most 2 year olds.
Decide where the time out will be and for
how long. A two year old should get about
2 minutes, depending on why he is getting
the time out. Some things should be a
time out and a good scolding.
Example: Bite another child, or hitting.
You just have to be consistant. If they get up,
just put them back, again, again, again, again.
Until they understand that you do not intend
to give in to their screams or fits. Once they know
you are not going to give up...They will sit for 2 minutes.
They generally respond well to a calm assertive voice.
That is a lot easier when you are not the mom.

Answer 5

Welcome to the "terrible twos." This is an age where the child's answer to everything is, "no," because that is the word he or she hears the most often.

At this age, the child is not quite old enough to socialize with other children, or play a game. His/her attention span is still very short. He or she will test you, though.

You need to be firm, and stick to your guns. If he/she doesn't learn now--there may never come a time when the child will listen. If you need to, put the child in bed every time he or she has done something wrong. If he or she is accustomed to eating snacks--deny the snack when the child has misbehaved.

You need to keep it up--no matter how badly you feel about it, and no matter how much the child puts up a fuss. You can't let things slide even once--or it's all over.

Good luck--I raised six, this was the most difficult age for each. I did feel bad, as did my husband, when we needed to punish--but it made them better children later.

Answer 6

Toddlers don't respond to time outs like 4 and 5 year olds do. They simply cannot process the consequences and think them through. But there is a way to do them that is more effective than others...

Dr. Harvey Karp MD (pediatrician and child development specialist) has a new book out called, "The Happiest Toddler on the Block." This will be your bible for getting your little guy to listen better.

Dr. Karp's theory is that the brain of the 2 year old is not unlike that of a very primitive person (think "Neandrethal") and as such you need to connect with them on that same level. Slow, paced, even talk simply does NOT work! You know it, you've been there! Dr. Karp shows you how to talk to toddlers, (ie: to a toddler having a tantrum not wanting to eat what you've put in front of him, "You are MAD MAD MAD! You dont WANT eggs! You want cereal! CEREAL! Well today we'll have eggs and TOMORROW we'll have CEREAL! And you will eat the eggs today!" The key is a loud and varied voice. People who have tried this tell me it really works.

This is such a great book--fun at times. I am reading it now in preparation for my baby's toddler years. His first book, "The Happiest Baby on the Block" was a huge help to me, and I suspect that this will be too. I hope it helps you.

Answer 7

You have to be consistent, talking in a firm and controlled tone of voice. Yelling does not help.

If you want a two year old to obey you must be willing to enforce your command with action.

For instance, if you want him to put away something and he doesn't do so you must:
1. Get up
2. Go to the child
3. Gently hold the child's hands
4. While holding his hands pick up the toy and put the toy away.
5. When the toy is in its place enthusiastically thank him for putting the toy away
6. Then do something fun with him

Always repeat what you want with a gentle tone, but with firmness. Repeat it, if you must, with exactly the same words and the same tone of voice.

Answer 8

I would give him a spank on the bottom then I am not saying beat the kid but a firm spank will get his attention. I know some are not going to agree with this but it works I have a 1 1/2 year old who listens better then most 4 year olds I know he says please and thank you already when he wants something or gets something. Only spank him though if you have told him NO and STOP that ohh I don't know about 4 or 5 times and you know if he knows better or not. Good Luck.

Answer 9

You need to create a very rigid routine with predictability and play time with him. Get someone to help with the 3 week old, as the baby will be fine with anyone holding him or taking him in the stroller. Here are some specific things to do: 1) Tell your son he is in charge of picking clothes for the baby, getting burp cloths for you, and getting the new diaper for the baby when you need to change him/her. Show him where the diapers & burp cloths are. Put them where he can reach them. Practice calling for him "Son, I need a diaper!!!" Praise him as he runs to get the diaper. Praise him when he brings it to you. As you change the diaper, tell the baby "You are a lucky baby with a big brother who can get diapers for you so you don't have to be wet/stinky!" You get the idea. Give big brother specific things he can help with, and praise him when he helps. 2) Get a little chair for time-outs. Be consistent about them, and they will get easier. Make a list near the time-out chair of automatic time-out infractions: Hitting, throwing things, biting, etc. 3) Create a predictable time you play with him. For example, first thing in the morning when he wakes up or right after breakfast, or when Daddy leaves for work, or when the baby goes down for a nap. Set up 3 times a day where he gets at least 10 minutes of your undivided attention. Play what he wants, don't demand things from him, just play and follow his lead. 4) Get him a sticker chart. Give him a sticker when he helps you, or when you see him do something nice for his baby. Teach him what he can do that's nice (rock baby in a swing, give baby a blanket, hold his bottle, tickle baby's feet, rub baby's tummy, hold a rattle or soft toy above his head. Tell him when he does a nice thing, he will get a sticker. After you establish these things, a few months later you should not have to use the stickers or timeouts nearly as much. And never give up the 3 times of playing for at least 10 minutes each day. He'll always need a little one-on-one attention, as all children thrive with this. Good luck!!!!!!!

Answer 10

oh wow there are so many things you can do... But every child is different.. a few things i do are... take privileges away, corner time, if they do something really bad they jump up and down for about a minute in the middle of the room (wears 'em out and they hate it), make them do a chore, or you can be positive and when they are good give them a sticker on a chart... and when they get so many stickers they get a treat out of the goodie bag... have you ever watched that nanny 911 show? They have a book out with tons of good ideas... rent it from your local library.. good luck! Terrible twos.... *shrieks*

Answer 11

You need to learn to speak his language, to know what will get through to him.

Also a two year old has very limited self-control you can't expect them not to do things they no are wrong all of the time. Sometimes you will hear them say no-no or shaking their head when they are doing something they know is wrong. They can't help it. You need to redirect their attention BEFORE they misbehave so that they can learn, eventually how to redirect their attention before they get into trouble. Knowing if I do this, this happens doesn't *really* help if they don't have any alternate behaviours and the ability to implement them.

For example if hitting you gets your attention and they don't know how else to do it, no matter what the punishment they are still going to hit you because they need your attention and have no alternate way to get it.

It is really much more about preventing misbehaving and teaching alternate behaviours until a child is much older. At this age time out should be used only to allow a child to bring their emotions under control, taking a small amount of time to calm oneself is a valuable lesson. Being punished by being sent to a corner may not work. So say things like "When you are so angry that you want to hurt someone you need to sit in the corner until you are more calm"