A firm, lowered voice works well at the toddler age as well as removing them from whatever they are misbehaving with. If they are throwing their food, take it away. They won't starve. Chances are, if they were really hungry, they would be eating it rather than throwing it.

Each child responds differently. What works with one might not work with another. One of my boys responded well to "No!" and removing his hand when he pulled my hair. The other one required my pulling his hair for him to be able to understand why that was a no-no.

I'm a firm believer that dangerous behaviour requires physical intervention. When your toddler tries to run into the parking lot, sometimes a spank on the bottom is the only way to get the message of danger across. There is no reasoning with an 18 month old though.

I heard a 5yr old call her mom a bitch yesterday and simply couldn't believe it. The mom responded with a softly spoken "I don't like the way you're behaving." What?! My kid would be fearing for his life if he talked to me like that! I guess that is why neither of mine have ever said anything remotely like that.

heard a 5yr old call her mom a bitch yesterday and simply couldn't believe it. The mom responded with a softly spoken "I don't like the way you're behaving." What?! My kid would be fearing for his life if he talked to me like that! I guess that is why neither of mine have ever said anything remotely like that.

exactly. I agree wholeheartedly. Just imagine how this little girl will behave as she grows up under this supervision. I've actually watched this up close with an only child I used to babysit. He was just like this.

I asked my 20 year old once why he thought he never did the things his friends did and he said he was too afraid of what we would do to him. Good I thought. I did my job.

We've recently had 3 kids in this area commit suicide. All at 18-20 years of age. These kids were not disciplined from what I could see....I'm wondering if there is a correlation.

I was tempted to start my own thread on this topic,

you should. I for one have some hilarious stories. My strong willed 3 year old was something else.

A five year old calling her mother a b**tch...and the mother only mildly chastising her? That's ridiculous and pretty sad...wonder what more she lets her get away with.

I start right when they're still in the womb.

~~I start right when they're still in the womb.~~

Here is hoping your new bundle of joy has been on his/her best behavior in your wife's tummy thus far.

From the time they could understand, at say nine months to a year. The word No became a regular part of my vocabulary when they tried to do somethng that could hurt them, like pulling things down, reaching for somethng sharp, and stuff like that. As they grew older the one word became sentences and letting them know why that's not appropriate or not good. Now they are older it's time out, for the four year old anyway, and taking stuff away, or them losing time with their friends, etc.

I've had to spank, open hand on the butt or arm or thigh, my four year old before, but only when it's warranted, when she has done something that no words will let her know that was not good. Generally as a rule, that's the last resort for us, my hubby and I. He won't even discipline them period! I'm the one who does it and I usually prefer to communicate, not hit.

Discipline can be a touchy and even personal topic, so I appreciate everyone's views on it.

I started beating my children while they were still in the womb. Can't get too early a start on good discipline ya know.