How do you give a 21 month old a time-out

He is crazy today (I am praying it's because he went to bed late last night but who knows)

I tried to give him a time-out and kept putting him back in the spot - he kept walking away....he def. does not get it just yet.

Any tips?

Re: How do you give a 21 month old a time-out

Gracie did this the first time or two we tried time out. We kept at it though & the next time we put her in, we were stern w/ her & kept placing her back there. She ended up sitting on the floor & crying, but stayed. Now if we say do you want a time out, she just shakes her head no.

I think at this age they start to get it. I wouldn't give up. We just kept it up for about a minute.

Re: How do you give a 21 month old a time-out

We have a parent trainer who comes from the EI program and she told us to do it this way.

First- Always give a warning...never do "just a time out" ....they will get confused.

Always explain why the behavior is bad and it must be bad for the child, whether it be a rule broken, harmful, potentially dangerous. You have to be careful to not punish simply annoying behavior kwim?

If he does it again after the warning you tell him he has to go to Time out.

She suggests a chair or a stool and in a spot thats not fun at all...

She she says to continue if he gets up to put him back down and so on and son on. As soon as he actually gives in and sits down you say Thanks you, and explain the behavior again and let him go.

Or if he cries but stays, Let him stay there till he stops crying.

One time it took over 10 minutes, Noah was still trying to get up and she said, it was way too long, to just use better judgement and explain the behavior and move on.

Not sure if that is helpful at all. Hope so... LOL

Message edited 4/6/2009 5:40:24 PM.

Re: How do you give a 21 month old a time-out

Hmmmm....

Caden actually will sit in time out until I tell him it's time for him to get out.

Are you sitting him on a chair or just on the floor? How about sitting him on a chair.....

Re: How do you give a 21 month old a time-out

We put him in his high chair and make him face the wall. We're mean!

ETA - we give him one warning. The kid is very well aware of time out, and he knows he gets it in one of 2 places - a piece of wall in the kitchen, or the high chair if he moves from that spot. since he hates being strapped in, he will now willingly stay at the kitchen wall until we tell him to go say sorry. We do not look at him or talk to him until then!

Message edited 4/6/2009 5:59:40 PM.

Re: How do you give a 21 month old a time-out

I've had to do it about 5x, all dinner-time related!

I give DD a warning and then if she continues, I put her on the bottom step in time out. The first few times I had to play "defense" so she wouldn't get up, but she got it relatively quickly. Now she sits and cries and after about 30-45 seconds (I put my back to her and pretend I'm doing something else), then stoop to her level and remind her why she's in time out, tell her I love her, and give her a hug.

Re: How do you give a 21 month old a time-out

I ask first in Mean Mommy voice "Do you want a time out?" and he says "nooo" but usually is bad again. Then I march him over to the corner between my front door and the wall (NOTHING fun around and he can't see us at all when facing the wall) and stand him there.

Then he cries (usually hysterically) and says "No bad Mama"

Re: How do you give a 21 month old a time-out

So far Lucas has been good about staying...cries his eyes out and stands but stays in the spot.

I started using a timer (for me not - haven't really explained it to him yet) and I leave him. if he walks out I do put him back but that's not often.

I try to do the Supernanny deal...get down to his level and explain why he is being put in time out. When he's done I explain again and ask him to say sorry -then we hug.

I'm not sure how it works but I think consistency is the key.

Re: How do you give a 21 month old a time-out

Thanks everyone - all great tips! I have a timeout chair - I may need to bring it downstairs!

Re: How do you give a 21 month old a time-out

Haven't done one yet I am SUCH a pushover

Re: How do you give a 21 month old a time-out

Well with Kaitlyn I just say time out and she pouts and goes and sits in her spot on her own 95% of the time - the other times I have to put her there (those are the harder ones). She sits there and turns around giving me those sad eyes. They work well at home - my issue is what to do about time outs etc when we are OUT of the house.

I think all you can do is just pick him up and put him in the same time out spot on each floor if he gets up the first time say it is time out time, then each time after that just keep putting him back until he stays for 1 minute.

Re: How do you give a 21 month old a time-out

Gillian has a wall. Usually she skips to it like its a circus and then puts on her fake crying act. After the 1 min she doesnt have a tear in her eye and begins to giggle.

Re: How do you give a 21 month old a time-out

Logan sits on the bottom step.

I figured that way if we were somewhere else and he needed a time out I would be able to find a step for him to sit on there too.

At first I would have to sit there with him. I would hold him in my lap but not talk to him at all.

Eventually then we moved to him sitting next to me.

Then me placing him there and standing near.

And now he will go and sit on his own.

Our biggest problem is that the dog goes to sit with him and then it becomes fun.