Halo!
We have a little 28-month old boy who, up until this point has been, the easiest kid in the world. The word "discipline" has never even entered our minds, because he would stop doing anything we asked him to stop doing, especially if we offered a distraction.
Other parents have confided they are gleefully watching our struggle now, as it proves he is, indeed, a normal kid.
He will NOT stop screaming. A very quiet, soft-spoken kid until now, we had some houseguests for two days over the holidays who were quite loud. He decided he liked it. And he will not stop.
He is bored and excited and thinks it's fun. He squeals and runs and squeals and makes up songs and screams and yells. And then follows it up by saying, "That's my outside voice!"
Thus far, we have tried:
1. "Please do not scream. We do not scream in this house."
2. "Can you please speak quietly to me?"
3. "If you'd like to yell, let's go to your Yelling Tent." Then I take him into a little pop-up tent in his bedroom, where we yell and scream for a few minutes. This, I found, only works if I go in there with him. And generally he is only yelling when he knows I cannot go with him - such as when I am cooking.
4. "Please go into the other room if you're going to use a loud voice." Sometimes he will go into the living room, but generally no. He will stay in the kitchen and whisper for one or two syllables, then start screaming again.
5. During the day I usually realize he just needs attention and stimulation, so I provide that and he stops. But there are times, such as this morning, that he just simply needs to stop on his own.
Just now his father was getting him ready to go for a drive to Grammy's. He would NOT stop screaming while getting dressed at the back door. They left 20 minutes ago, and my ears are still ringing. When he put him into the car, DH said in desperation, "Stop yelling." DS looked at him in the eyes and yelled as loud as he could.
You've heard it before, and I'm saying it now - this is NOT my child. I have never seen him act like this before. To be defiant has never occurred to him. My husband swears it's something in his diet*.
So. We are not threatening parents. Or bribing parents. We are discipline parents. This kid needs a choice between two options. And he needs a consequence. But as I've never had to come up with one before, I don't have the faintest idea what that consequence could be. "If you don't stop screaming, you're not going to Grammy's" is a threat. I understand that. But what is a consequence?
I think I just need some sort of beginner help in this whole discipline game. And some consequence suggestions. Please help!
*We recently introduced dairy, which in the past has greatly affect him, but physically - not emotionally.
Also, I am 12 weeks pregnant, and I hear they understand this before you tell them and begin acting out?
We have a little 28-month old boy who, up until this point has been, the easiest kid in the world. The word "discipline" has never even entered our minds, because he would stop doing anything we asked him to stop doing, especially if we offered a distraction.
Other parents have confided they are gleefully watching our struggle now, as it proves he is, indeed, a normal kid.
He will NOT stop screaming. A very quiet, soft-spoken kid until now, we had some houseguests for two days over the holidays who were quite loud. He decided he liked it. And he will not stop.
He is bored and excited and thinks it's fun. He squeals and runs and squeals and makes up songs and screams and yells. And then follows it up by saying, "That's my outside voice!"
Thus far, we have tried:
1. "Please do not scream. We do not scream in this house."
2. "Can you please speak quietly to me?"
3. "If you'd like to yell, let's go to your Yelling Tent." Then I take him into a little pop-up tent in his bedroom, where we yell and scream for a few minutes. This, I found, only works if I go in there with him. And generally he is only yelling when he knows I cannot go with him - such as when I am cooking.
4. "Please go into the other room if you're going to use a loud voice." Sometimes he will go into the living room, but generally no. He will stay in the kitchen and whisper for one or two syllables, then start screaming again.
5. During the day I usually realize he just needs attention and stimulation, so I provide that and he stops. But there are times, such as this morning, that he just simply needs to stop on his own.
Just now his father was getting him ready to go for a drive to Grammy's. He would NOT stop screaming while getting dressed at the back door. They left 20 minutes ago, and my ears are still ringing. When he put him into the car, DH said in desperation, "Stop yelling." DS looked at him in the eyes and yelled as loud as he could.
You've heard it before, and I'm saying it now - this is NOT my child. I have never seen him act like this before. To be defiant has never occurred to him. My husband swears it's something in his diet*.
So. We are not threatening parents. Or bribing parents. We are discipline parents. This kid needs a choice between two options. And he needs a consequence. But as I've never had to come up with one before, I don't have the faintest idea what that consequence could be. "If you don't stop screaming, you're not going to Grammy's" is a threat. I understand that. But what is a consequence?
I think I just need some sort of beginner help in this whole discipline game. And some consequence suggestions. Please help!
*We recently introduced dairy, which in the past has greatly affect him, but physically - not emotionally.
Also, I am 12 weeks pregnant, and I hear they understand this before you tell them and begin acting out?
