kidz things logo

I love watching Supernanny and will definitely try using the naughty step/corner/chair (or whatever suits us at the time) as a discipline technique when my daughter is old enough to understand what I am asking her to do, but she’s 22 months now and too young for it.  I am finding it so hard to discipline her because she’s old enough to be extremely naughty and know that she’s doing something she shouldn’t be, but not old enough to understand when I am explaining why it is wrong or naughty and that she mustn’t do it again.  Does anyone have any good techniques for disciplining a toddler under two years old?

Hi Claire

As you know, whatever their age, all kids are different and what works for one won’t necessarily work for another.
I would be the last to offer specific advice as I seem to recollect being a problem child myself
(That was a long, long time ago!)

However, you might find the following sites useful:

http://life.familyeducation.com/discipline/toddler/50950.html

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080809175732AAIMQeM

http://www.hipmama.com/node/22790

http://www.babycenter.com/404_whats-the-best-way-to-discipline-a-toddler_6895.bc

http://baby.families.com/blog/ask-a-baby-blogger-how-young-is-too-young-for-discipline

Hi Sisyphus! 

Thanks so much for your reply!  I posted my original message a few months ago and have since started using the ‘naughty chair’ technique as a discipline method.  Now that my daughter is over two she seems to understand so much more and I have found the naughty chair to be quite successful in curbing her bad behaviour - although she obviously does still have mammoth tantrums, but I don’t discipline her for tantrums, only really use the chair if she has done something which has hurt me (like kicking me while I’m trying to dress her!) or if she keeps doing something which could be dangerous to her.

I’ve looked at all the websites you suggested and they offer really helpful advice - in particular I liked the ‘babycenter’ and ‘baby.families’ articles - thanks so mcuh for finding those links!

Haha, I’m sure you weren’t any more of a “problem child” than all the other independent toddlers out there!!! 

Claire!

I didn’t read your ‘Naughty step, here I come!!!!’ thread until after I had posted here.

It’s nice to hear that you have found a method that ‘works for both of you’.

I emphasise this as I firmly believe that, even with discipline at an early age, it is all about building a relationship of mutual respect, trust and love. I could go on and on about this but it would sound like I was giving specific advice and I try not to do that.

You seem to be building this very well and as long as you keep this idea of it being mutual respect, even though a young child may not know it in those terms, it will reap boundless rewards as they grow and develop.

Most of the really important things that I have learned about relationships and respect in general didn’t come from books or advice. They came from my parents in the way they treated me and in the way they treated each other. My father passed away when I was 16 and my mother when I was 28 and, although I am almost 60 now, I still thank them for the love, respect and understanding that they showed to me and to each other.

You’ve totally hit the nail on the head, in my opinion, Sisyphus!  Sounds like you had wonderful parents - I hope that my daughter will feel that way towards my husband and I when she is older.

With patience and a little understanding Claire, I am sure she will.