What is the best way to disipline your children?

Question

I have a 2 year old who gets into everything. She writes all over everything (I dont know how she gets pens and stuff because I have them all up very high.. lol). She throws fits when she doesn't get her way. And she throws everything everywhere. And it is very hard to get her to go to sleep. She wants to stay up until midnight! And I gave up on potty training because she will poop or pee right next to the potty but not in it. And I got her a really neat potty too.
I dont want to spank her or yell at her but I dont know what else to do.

Answer 1

I would reccomend using time-out, when she argues against thte time-out you may have to spank her, but use it only as a last resort. I was spanked as a child, but it kept me in line, but now i hate my father. you must use your own judment as a guide. Remember they call them the TERRIBLE TWOS for a reason.

Answer 2

This is what two year olds do...they throw strops and fits and tantrums because their brains haven't matured to the reasoning level...they are still at the 'I see it, I want it' phase, and it will pass, don't worry.

When you see her scribbling on your walls, get her to help you clean it- hand her a baby wipe and have her copy you whilst you help her to wipe it up...I know she is only two, but she is capable of helping.

The best way to stop the bad behaviour is through distraction, have her do other things if you spot her heading to the walls with that pen, or utilise her creative streak, put paper on the floor and get her to draw/finger paint on that.

Can you take her to some playgroups during the week, perhaps her seeing other children might wear her out and calm her down a bit.

If she wants to stay up until midnight, it's because she still wants to play, so pack all toys away earlier and turn the telly off, don't have anything fun going on. She'll soon go to sleep if everything is boring.

Hold off on the potty training until later in the year as well, she'll have more understanding then :)

Answer 3

My 2 year old finds a way to get in to everything as well. It makes me laugh for sure. She can find things that I lost while she is digging into things she shouldn't be... but that is how they learn as I am sure that you know. Every child will throw a fit when they don't get their way. Its embarrassing. To get her to sleep sometime she may have to cry herself to sleep in order to learn when bed time is. You should guide her to the potty when she has to go and ask her frequently "you gotta go potty". Time out is the best way to discipline. I have tried spanking and my daughter thinks its funny i don't know why but even if it hurts she is laughing about it like she is the devil or something. But she screams in time out! you wouldn't think being in a corner is such a big deal. Keep her there for the amount of her age in minutes plus one minute. It will keep her in line. Don't skip time outs and let her get away with things after she has already had a time out for doing it. It will confuse! Good luck!