Toddlers

When Spencer was around 19 months old, I started using a 'naughty mat'. I put one mat upstairs and one downstairs. For less serious behaviour (e.g., pushing the button on the tv), I would give him a warning ("Spencer, if you turn off the tv again, you will have to sit on the naughty mat). If he did it again, I'd sit him on the mat for two minutes. I don't know why but he never moved off the mat!

I don't use the mat now because his younger sister can now walk and, if I put Spencer on the mat, she usually goes there and plays with him so it doesn't really discourage his behaviour. Now, I use a 'naughty' chair, stair, corner, or put him in his crib (I tried to avoid the crib because I don't want him to associate his crib with being naughty).

While he was on the mat, I did not speak to him or interact with him in any way. Once the two minutes were up, I would ask him why he was on the mat, we'd discuss why the behaviour was unacceptable, he'd give me a kiss and tell me he was sorry (or tell Hilary he was sorry if the behaviour was directed towards her).

For more serious behaviour (e.g., hitting his sister), he didn't get a warning; he'd go straight to the mat.

Like I said, for whatever reason, Spencer never got off the mat. However, I've been told that if the child doesn't stay on the mat, to just repeatedly bring him/her back to the mat and place him/her there until he stays for the allotted time (the recommendation is generally one minute per year of age).

Don't know if that helps but it does work for us!

Lori-Ann

My Riley (22 months) won't stay on the "naughty stair" either. and the more stern I get about her sitting there the more she laughs and runs around.  So usually I try to avoid or distract from the behavour. Which is getting harder to do as she gets older.

I have also tried taking away whatever toy she's been playing with at them. For example Riley's playing with a book and for whatever reason she hits her brother with it.  Now she's all done with the book. If she continues to hit him then she has to play in a different room. Which she hates doing so usually the hitting stops with a warning of haivng to play by herself.  This seems to work better than the time out/naughty stair thing which works great for my son (4)