Disciplining a 2 year old

[clh2]

I'm 36 and I wouldn't sit through an hour and 45 min church service.

You need to find a more family friendly church. Two hour church services are not family friendly (especially since they don't have Sunday School or a nursery!).

My personal limit is about 1 hour and 15 minutes before I would have a meltdown! I am almost 50.

 

[DisneyScraps]

She is screaming because she gets a reaction. Even a negative reaction is still giving her attention.

You have to ignore it. It's tough but one she realizes that you won't react she will move on to something else.

I would work on a small reward system. Stickers, an M&M something small.

Every time you leave the house make sure you have something to keep her busy. I hada small backpack filled with things for my DD and the only time she got to play with them is when we were out of the house.

I had a strong willed child. We implimented a rule that said, if you cry you never get what you want. That started around 4. It still works to this day and she is 10.

I wish you luck, mine was a deamon from about 2 1/2 to 3.

Lisa

 

[themilesfamily]

Ages 2-3 were so hard. So, so, so very hard.

I did two things:

1) I tried to do as much of my shopping, errands, out-and-about stuff alone, as I could. When my husband was home, he watched her and I got done what I needed to get done.

2) When I had to take her places I'd take a small bag with toys and snacks. Keep her entertained, distracted, not let her get to the point where she starts to fuss. If she was tired, hungry, fussy -- and the wailing started -- it was time to take her home and tend to her.

I don't think of age 2 as an age that's really about whether your child is "listening" to you or not. I think it's an age where they're still learning to cope with and express their own feelings, emotions, wants, needs.

After she turned 3 it was like she magically turned into a wonderful, super-easygoing child. She was able to communicate verbally so much better and that just took away a lot of the stress and struggle.

Just hang in there. It gets better....until the teen years, of course.

 

[cm8]

I don't think this is about discipline.

An hour & 45 minutes? I have a 2 year old (just barely) and there is no way I would expect her KNOW that there is a time & place to be quiet for an hour & 45 minutes. There attention span, at most, is 15 to 30 minutes.

You need to bring LOTS of things for her to do. Coloring books, paper, crayons, favorite toys, and books. Snacks & drinks.

Is there music during the services? Is it upbeat? Encourage her to get up & "dance" during those few minutes to help burn some energy off.

Even with all of that, I would still expect to have to take my DD outside or in another room to run for a few minutes. She is very high energy, always running or moving, and very curious about other people. I just can't imagine expecting my DD to be quiet for almost 2 hours without bringing something to occupy her.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Hey, disengaging and turning one's back on a teen is not 'rolling over'...

Believe me, there is nothing worse or more frustrating, especially to a teen, than being dismissed with one's back turned!

It completely takes away their power and ability to aggavate and/or negotiate.

 

[marcyinPA]

I think I'd find a new church.

If she's basically good at home, then you might just have to ride this phase out. Maybe public places are a bit too overwhelming or overstimulating for her right now.

Have you checked out the book 1-2-3 Magic? It's a GREAT book with a wonderful discipline technique.

I used 1-2-3 Magic with both of my kids...it was a life saver!!

And I also agree with the over stimulation.

As far as church, I don't know too many two year olds who can sit through a service. Your church doesn't have an infant/toddler nursery? Ours takes kids through the age of 2, and then we have Sunday school that starts at age 2.