2 1/2 year old on naughty step for 3 hours - now asleep!

[kitpuss]

My little boy spent has been on the naughty step for 3 hours, refusing to say sorry. Now he's asleep on the floor next to it.

We only had 10 minutes of tears during the whole 3 hours, he sat there pretty happily but kept saying "not say sorry".

I've not really used the naughty step much before and now have no idea what to do when he wakes up.

So to any experts on naughty step procedure - should I just forget about it and get on with the afternoon or should I still be trying to get him to say sorry?!

[TheOriginalFAB]

pretty much what colditz said.

[colditz]

And before you even start telling me I'm too harsh and not constructive, do you think that what you've done this afternoon is constructive? or that it could in any way be described as kind and effective parenting?

[hillyhilly]

I might not have been quite so blunt but, I agree with colditz, go and get on with your day and have some fun.

[LawrieMarlow]

Why was he on the naughty step for three hours?

[Pinkjenny]

I really have to agree with colditz.

[TyMinisterForMagic]

Agree with colditz, wtf were you thinking having a 2 year old on the naughty step for 3 hours! Poor dc.

[LawrieMarlow]

I have to say I am not a naughty step fan, but I know it works for some people.

Why have you started using it (this is a genuine question)? Was the form of discipline you were using not working for you?

I also (possibly unusually) don't get that het up about small children not saying sorry - I think it is often just words they are saying rather than meaning it. If my DC at that age had done something to someone else, I would have done the saying sorry, but with them with me. If it was you he didn't say sorry to, I would probably not have made it such a big deal.

[BrokenBananaTantrum]

[LaurieFairyCake]

Ok, it sounds like no one has explained to you what the naughty step is for.

Sitting on the step for 3 minutes (one minute per year as explained) is the consequence and that has to be carried out.

encourage to say sorry afterwards but you do not make this (secondary behaviour) something to be punished for - you then MOVE on.

[Tee2072]

I also have to agree with colditz. Expecting a 2.5 year old to say sorry and understand what it means to be point that he sits there for 3 hours? Insane.

And, though I never would normally say this, bad parenting.

[youmaynotlikethis]

wtf 3hours on the naughty step thats cruel,very cruel,either this is a joke or ur evil

[iMemoo]

Wow, something has gone seriously wrong. Who in their right minds could think it's right to make a 2 year old sit there for 3 hours.

[feckwit]

Sorry are very empty words at that age so really I see the naughty step as a chance for a child to reflect on what they have done. As they get older, apologies will be more forthcoming but rest assured that just a few minutes is ample time to think back on what he has done.

Next time use it for just 2 mins.

[pooka]

2.5 is a baby still.

Naughty step was inappropriate for this age. And certainly not for that length of time.

[hiccymapops]

Agree with colditz, 3 hours just because he didn't say sorry is horrific!

[SomekindofSpanish]

I agree with the others. Plus, after 3 hours, he has forgotten why he was there in the first place.

You may need to re-read the method before continuing with it.

[supergreenuk]

If he stayed there the correct amount of time you should have returned after the 2 minutes was up and given him a hug. I bet it would have defused the situation and he would have probably said sorry. 3 hours sounds a bit wrong. We are all learning though so try not to take some comments too much to heart.

[amothersplaceisinthewrong]

I would be serioulsy worried that a 2.5 year old sat on the step for that long without moving. My son would have managed about 3 seconds!

If of course this is genuine.....

[alphamummy]

all learning? all learning? words fail me.