Discipline Help

I'm having some trouble with my 3.5 year old DS and I would love some advice. He is the most loveable little boy ever. He has a fantastic personality and such a good boy. He is either a perfect angel or the exact opposite. Lately he has started to be mean to his year old sister. He will push her over, "hit" (not hard) and be rough with her and she will laugh. Because she laughs, he does it again. He's also started to hit me, not hard, but hard enough. When DH and I try time outs, he just laughs at us and runs away. He has no respect for us and I know it is our fault he is this way. He listens to everybody else and will sit for timeouts for them. I'm just at my wits end and beyond frustrated... Can anybody recomend what works for them or a book I should read? I have tried so many things, please help... I just want him to behave for me like he does everybody us. Thank you!

Re: Discipline Help

I think you are doing a good job! He probaly feels most comfortable with you, or maybe he is testing you.

Time outs never worked for my DS..... but what has worked when we have had some rough spots are taking things away (like bedtime story or bedtime tv, etc) or sticker charts. (I would make a chart with about five spots. Throughout the day I would catch him doing "good" things and give him a sticker for his chart. If he got all his stickers that day, he woudl get a treat of some kind - somethign small. At first I always made sure he was succesful with the chart so he would understand how it worked and would be motivated. )

Hope those ideas helped. Hang in there!

Re: Discipline Help

consistancy is key. I see it in my house. If DS does something wrong I give him a warning. "DS this is your warning if you do xyz again, you are going into time out. Make a good choice." If he chooses to do the wrong activity again, he goes into time out. And he stays there for his three minutes. If DH is the one disciplining him, his approach is, "DS dont do that. Stop doing that. WHy are you doing that? Do you want a time out? I'm going to give you a time out. I'll turn the tv off you doint start listening. DS can you stop doing that please? Listen to daddy...." Finally after 10 minutes of frustration, DH will attempt a timeout and DS wont stay in it. But then DH doesnt follow through and put him back. According to DH, timeouts doent work for DS. However, they are EXTREMELY effective when I do them.

Second recommendation is choices. "You can throw blocks and go into time out or you can play with your cars. It is your choice."

Re: Discipline Help

Thank you for both of your advice - I appreciate it!!