Timeout

Timeout BEYOND TIME-OUT Some Discipline Strategies Every Parent Needs to Know CHANGE THE SCENE The best way to discipline a baby under a year old combines baby-proofing with distraction. First, you have to make the house secure so that your child can safely explore his environment. But because no place is ever 100 percent baby proof, whenever your little one heads toward trouble-reaching for an electrical cord or the TV, pulling the dog's tail--simply get him involved in another activity. You can't expect your baby to understand rules and consequences, although you can say no as you remove him from the danger. Shouting "No!" however, will only frighten him, and hitting or shaking a baby should never be done. So constant supervision is needed at this stage. Distraction can also work with toddlers, and sometimes even preschoolers, who are easily overwhelmed if you say no-no too many times. Instead of reprimanding, try drawing your child away from something off-limits by saying, "Come look at this," or singing a silly song. GIVE FAIR WARNING For toddlers and preschoolers, who are just learning how to behave appropriately, it's best to give a reminder about a rule before you enforce the penalty. In fact, a well-timed warning can avert trouble altogether, or at child, away, spanking, something, done, consequences, rule, about, you're, way, time-out, punishment, go, children, again, activity, you'll, work, times, take, stop, should, say, rules, remove, remember, play, place, parents, out, others, one, misbehavior, know