While I don't think time-out (more of a sit and watch thing at this stage) is out of the question, I think the thing that has worked the best for Luci is just outlasting her. I think the sit and watch thing works best for things like hitting, biting, kicking, etc, kind of a "you hit, you sit" type thing. After Luci was about 15 mos, I gave up on distraction. It just did not work. I don't care what anyone says, she was not distractable. If she was climbing the shelves, I stood right there and every time she tried it, I pulled her down and said "Get down, please. You could fall and get hurt." Over and over. I outlasted her. Sometimes, I shortened this to a "No. Stay down." Over and over. Fifty or hundred or a thousand repetitions. This was the only way she got it. And I second the having him clean up his messes thing. If Luci dumped something out, she picked it up even if I had to stand there and put her hand on each thing kicking and screaming. Outlast. 100% consistancy and everytime I've lapsed, she is "out of control" again. And I lapse a lot and resort to "wrong" methods, she gets even worse. When Luci about 18 mos, I took about two weeks and gave up on everything else (like housework) and focused almost entirely on helping her learn some boundaries. Because I gave her that time, I was able to remain much more postive about it. It was really helpful actually. I know you might not be able to do that right now, but just wanted to throw that out there. I've lapsed in my consistancy since then many times, but the groundwork that was laid then has been really useful.
I think babyslime had some great suggestions for using babygates and door latches. Luci figured out those things that go over door knobs to make it hard to turn them in nothing flat. But latches like those sliding ones, just out of her reach might have been really nice.
He's at a really tough age for a high energy, strong willed (meant in a good way) kid. We are still realing from Luci's toddler hood and I'm just starting to see the light at the end of that particular tunnel. I know their are tough stages ahead too. But like I've told my mother, if I can teach this child self-control and help her be successful, she could change the world. She is that stubborn, she would never give up.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-09-24 09:10 pm (UTC)I think
He's at a really tough age for a high energy, strong willed (meant in a good way) kid. We are still realing from Luci's toddler hood and I'm just starting to see the light at the end of that particular tunnel. I know their are tough stages ahead too. But like I've told my mother, if I can teach this child self-control and help her be successful, she could change the world. She is that stubborn, she would never give up.