opinions on "naughty step" for 2 year old please...

[deaconblue]

have you used it? Does it work? What age do you reckon children understand it?

Ds is 25 months. He doesn't do much in the way of smacking/ throwing toys or the classic naughty step type behaviour, but is really defiant - he almost never does what I ask without shouting/ laying on the floor and stropping etc. I wonder if he's old enough to understand how such a technique works and am also unsure how I feel about using hte word "naughty" but really need to do something about his behaviour. Opinions please

not sure about the doing as you ask bit to be honest, he is only just two. Maybe i am not strict enough with mine, thats not sarcasm, i honestly wonder if i am not strict enough. I have used the naughty step a handful of times, but found it lost its efficacy pretty quickly. Haven't used it for a long time, but every so often when DD is in a strop, she will say "im going to the naughty step" and takes her self off to sit on it. That, or tells me to go to the naughty step.

I would have thought ignoring the strop would be sufficient, ignoring him until he does as you ask? What are you aking him to do?

I think it works, but has to be accompanied with suitably stern tone of voice.

You should it for as many minutes as their age - ie 2 minutes for a 2 year old.

We call it time out, but its the same thing. Ds's preschool use it when they need to and we do it to. I think it depends on what you use it for as to whether it works. You do have to be consistent and don't threaten unless you will actually put him there.

Have you thought about what you are asking him and the way you are asking it. Ending a request with OK? makes it a question and he wouldn't understand it was an order (as such) iyswim?

If ds decides to have a roll on floor strop/tantrum, we ignore him and step over if need be! That soon stops him. ALso another MNetter suggested saying 'don't laugh' which breaks the strop sometimes - you have to keep going 'not one smile', 'no lauhging' etc but it does work most of the time.

personally I wouldn't use the naughty step at this age, unless teh behavour has been raeally out of order, and the child needs removing from the situation.(Pulling hair or hitting) None of my DC's have ever stayed on the step, though, with out me sitting with them. I certainly woudln't expect them to sit on the step for 2 mins (as would be recommended at this age)

I'm a soft parent though, and atleat one of my DC's is regularly described as "wilfull", so I may be talking quatch.