Discipline Ideas for Toddlers - Page 2

Your child doesn't want to leave or stop a certain activity when it's time to stop.

1. Encourage your toddler to say "bye-bye." It seems to give them a sense of closure. If they have to stop playing with a certain toy, for example, try waving your hand at the toy and telling your child, "Say bye-bye to the car." Or, "Say bye-bye to the ball." My 13 month old is starting to get this!
2. Have a toy handy to distract your little toddler with.
3. Give your child a "warning" before making them change activities. "Ellen, we will have to leave in a couple minutes."
4. For an older toddler, sometimes also counting to ten helps. Then they know for certain how much longer they have left to play. Tell them, "You can play with that until the count of ten," or "It'll be time to get out of the bathtub when I count to ten." This certainly doesn't work with our one year old, but it worked for our daughter when she was two, and we still use it now that she is four (only now we count to 20). This took a little while for her to learn, but after counting she is usually ready to go on to the next activity. Or, you could use a timer.
5. Don't bribe, but you can tell them something fun they can do after they do what you've asked. "After you clean up your toys, we will go for a walk in the park." (And help them clean up.)

Your child hits you (or sibling, cat, etc.).

1. Tell your child that hitting hurts and that hitting people (or animals) is not allowed. "We don't hit people." (Suggestion... try not to overreact when you say, "Ouch!!" or your child may think it's funny and do it again for your reaction. :-/)