Discipline

[ChaCha]

Can someone explain what it means to discipline a 2 year old? DH gets very cross when we are in other peoples' houses and he touches their ornaments/books etc..usually to arrange them in his own little order or move them around the room. DH says that they were brought up to go into someone else's house and not move from their chair let alone touch anything. I tried explaining that this is not possible with an active toddler and this surely happened when they were much older but he is insistent that manners need to be taught from now. DH plays well with him and they have a lot of fun together but when it comes to the above he has his own ideas and gets very cross with him (i.e. throwing food on the floor, making a mess at the table, lifing the glasses off and putting them on the floor' all of which i find are completely normal and doesn't bother me at all. I am more inclined to worry about his sitting on his baby brother or hanging from the window...
So how do you a discipline a 2 year old? And if they don't listen to no...what do you do?

Chacha, your husband's expectations are unrealistic.

In other people's houses I check that they are ok with it and there is nothing valuable or breakable, and try to put as much back in it's proper place when we leave. Of course it's best if you've brough a small bag of toys with you.

Manners need to be modelled from now of course but it is unreasonable getting cross at such a young child for not behaving like an adult.

I have to say I draw the line at throwing food though. There are threads about this. My approach is playing with food is ok, mess is inevitable but deliberately throwing food on the floor is not allowed. First time it happens I would remind child that food is for eating not throwing. Second time I would end the meal.

And glasses on the floor sound dangerous! But if you get cross when he does it, he will probably do it more for the reaction.

Have a search, there are loads of threads about this.

I think you need to meet in the middle.

2 is a good age to start being disciplined. He does need to learn that you can't go into peoples' houses and touch/move/possible break things. However just saying no doesn't usually work at this age. You need distraction techniques like some toys or things that he CAN play with.

There is no point in getting cross with him but he does need to start learning manners and how to behave. Much easier to start teaching him now (and at this age it is teaching not disciplining) then realising at 4 that nobody invites you over anymore as your DS breaks things and makes such a mess! Am not thinking of your DS necessarily but of other children i have "esperienced"!