Once DS was old enough to understand the difference between naughty and good behaviour, we were able to start discipline, and our lives became so much easier. I was so much happier and more confident now I was able to control my child, and in time he stopped acting out so much and I wasn’t embarrassed or upset by his behaviour.
Now, aged nearly 3, our discipline methods are no longer working because of his growing strength. Simply put, when he misbehaved, he got time out. He would be strapped into our spare stroller and turned to face the wall or put in another room for two minutes. It was amazing how well this worked for us.
Now, he has started to break his pram with his hands, and by kicking at it, and will kick at anything within his reach and knock things down. It’s got to the point I worry he will tip the buggy and hurt himself. We had begun to do time out in his room instead, but yesterday he retailiated by peeing on his carpet (the rest of the house has laminate floors, so he knew it would get to me) with a nasty smirk on his face. Frustrated, I changed his trousers and pants and returned him to his buggy for more time out and he immediately began blowing snot out his nose and wiping it all over the straps of the buggy and the clean washing beside him.
I just don’t know what to do, and without a method of controlling his behaviour I am started to act angry and irrational and shout at him. I love him so much but sometimes I wonder why he is such a little....
I tried time out sitting in a corner unrestrained but he kept getting up, and when I tried to return him like supernanny does, he hit me and scratched at me and pulled my hair.
What do you do?
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Can’t cope. How do you discipline your 3 year old?
Pansy0926 · 05/03/2018 18:53
I freely admit to not being into time outs or naughty steps or generally being the “strongman leader” with my three year old. My feeling is she’s been on the earth for three years. I’ve been on it thirty five and I still throw the odd tantrum, loose my temper and behave like a giant baby
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I find the website ahaparenting.com brilliant. It’s the complete opposite of the time out approach and it’s a waaaaaay slower burn but it really does work. We still have our moments but most of the time I gently explain things to DD and even if she storms off (she hates criticism, like me!) she always comes back within 2 minutes and requests a cuddle and says sorry and we have a little chat about what to do better next time. It’s ace. And I have a really cool, lovely three year old most of the time.
It’s worth a look definitely. She goes through scenarios for the sort of situations you’re describing with your little lad. I hope I didn’t sound smug there. Sounds like you’re all having a rough time of it 
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