Where to even start...
I have a very determined, strong willed, and stuborn 2 year old daughter. All 3 of the traits I just described I think can all be considered good traits but if she's having a bad day they can be an awful combination. She has recently started taking her anger and frustrations out by kicking, smacking, pulling hair, and pushing. At home and daycare (more so at home). I have tried scolding her and putting her in time out. She used to go sit on the couch the second I told her to but it's now gotten to the point that I have to strap her into the highchair and leave the room. She will cool down for a few then 10 minutes later she's at it again. I got a lot of slack from friends and family when it came to diciplining Madison because I decided that spanking just didn't make sense to me and I wasn't going to do it. The other day she was having one of her meltdowns and slapped me in the face. I spanked her not only did I feel like the worse person ever she actually laughed at me!! So I am still doing the time outs and scold her everytime she is physical but it doesn't seem to have any effect. She's already had a few incidences at daycare and I really want to nip this problem in the bud before she hurts someone or gets kicked out of daycare. Has anyone else experianced violent behaviors like this? I just don't know where she gets it me and her dad are not violent people and we don't let her watch grown up tv. I guess I just feel at my wits end with this.
we had this too
My daughter when she was two used to do this. She never hurt anyone but me. She used to slap me and kick me when she was mad. But I was determined to get her to stop. We would put her in her room and close the door. Then I didn't get hurt and she would throw her fit alone. She used to hurt herelf but when she realized she that no one was watching she stopped. I wish I could be more help. It was all for attention, And I was a stay at home mom so it wasn't like I went away, and she was the one child so everything else everyone told me just didn't work. Please let me know how this is working out.
Good Luck
Kerry Pratt
unruly
We don't have problems to the extent you do, but kerrypratt07 makes a good point. We also put Luke in his room BY HIMSELF, in the middle of the floor, no toys! When he is out of control, alot of times he continues the fit to get attention, I think. Putting him completely out of sight bores him because no one is reacting, and we aren't tempted to continue the arguement either! Maybe if Madison doesn't have anyone to "show off" for, she won't be so dramatic, or physical! Good luck to you. It takes alot of patience to deal with kids when they are unruly! Time out alone maybe be a good solution for BOTH of you!
Jessica
~ Mommy to Luke and Shawn
time outs
I was making her sit on the couch for time outs yeah that worked for half a second then it got to the point that I had to sit with her and hold her down which only made her more violent. The highchair really seems to be working I strap her in and face her away from the table and step around the corner, she realizes I am not giving her attention and seems to calm down much quicker. I am just dreading the day though when she figures out how to unstrap herself!
ask your doctor
If you use a peditrician they have alot of good suggestions to get around issues that toddlers seem to throw at parents. They have some education in dealing with those kinds of issues.
I never seemed to have an issue to your extent. If you can reason with your daughter that she is making her own choices and that there are consequences, that worked well for us, we also use a timer for time outs as it puts the blame on the timer and not mom or dad, the kids must wait for the timer to go off (that way you don't forget either)and then you shouldn't rehash the issue -let it be done.
Ex; if you daughter is misbehaving, ask her to stop and then tell her if she doesn't stop that these will be her consequences and that is her choice--giving her the power to make good choices and remind her that good choices are rewarded, maybe with a good story read to her or something that gets your positive attention.
Just a few things that worked for us. Positive reinforcement.Choices are hers, bad choices have bad consequences, good equals good. No issues for a couple of days or week maybe she gets to pick out special book at the store, use a sticker chart to keep track and put a sticker on the chart at the end of the day before bed. Sticker chart accomplishments work well with kids as they can see their progress.
Good luck