How do you get your 2-3 year olds to listen to you?

[sheeplikessleep]

When I tell DS off (2.8), he just turns away and/or ignores me. I've tried naughty step, which hasn't worked (he sings / chats away whilst he is on it). So now it feels like all I am doing is threatening and then taking his toys away all day.

When he is good he is so good, but I get so frustrated when he is obviously ignoring me. I know he is picking up on my frustration, which is fuel to the fire. I just want to feel that we are communicating with him. He avoids eye contact or laughs when I tell him off.

Any advice or similar experiences? Thanks for reading. I should say we also have DS2, who is 17 weeks old, but I do try to give DS1 regular attention and time. I guess he could be feeling a bit put out though.

Help!

Hello. There is a recent thread in the "Behaviour" section on a very similar issue - "Are all children disobedient..." with a lot of good advice on the matter, I think.

Hope it gets better for you soon!

with great difficulty sometimes!!

You can't. End of.

you just keep on explaining why they can't/should/won't want to etc etc and physically removing them until they start to listen

in DS case it is an ongoing situation

thanks all for posting. i'll look in the behaviour section - thanks for letting me know.
reassuring to know that it isn't just me