Hi ladies. I've been reading different views of discipline. Do you give your children a warning or send them straight to timeout? DS has had a rough couple of weeks and I feel I'm asking him more than once to listen. Thanks.

I warn him, that way he knows what he's doing wrong and is aware that it is NOT okay to continue...the key is after the warning...if they do it again...drop what you're doing and discipline/time out without another warning, counting to 3 yet again...you have to be consistenly firm with boundaries so they learn to respond to them! Hang in there, it is tough!

You can play games with ds to get him to listen better, too. Tara loves this method... you ask him to do something like put his finger on his nose, and then you see how quickly he can do it. Silly things, but tuning him into your voice and immediately doing what is asked.

I don't always give a warning. Major offenses like hitting, pushing, etc, get an automatic time out.
Smaller offenses I might say What _should_ you be doing or, what's the rule about ____? or please stop.

ITA about if you do threaten a TO, you really have to make it a priority to ensure it happens right away. and don't give them attention - I see some moms sitting with their kids... ugh, not me, I think it makes them worse. I time out them and walk away. I call them when they can come out.

He's testing you... stick to your guns and you'll pass :)

Yep, I give one warning. Then it's time out, and I explain that it was his *choice* to be in time out, because he didn't listen. Then I walk away and set the timer.

Ditto what Timmysmom said. I give one warning and then it is immediately off to time out if she does it again. When I give her the warning I do let her know that she has the control to make a good choice or a bad choice.

Sara

Yep yep all of the above.

I make sure to explain it was his 'choice' too. "you chose to have a bad attitude" or "you chose to disobey" whatever.. 'therefore you also *chose* to be in time out/get a spanking' And remind them that they need to remember/learn to make better choices.

And make sure you are on his level, have his complete attention before giving him directions/warnings. Meaning...not always best practice to call to him from another room 'don't do such n such'. You've not connected with him. You *must* connect with him. They get involved in their own worlds you know..they may hear you but they don't *hear* you always...even if they answer. We get some blank 'yes ma'ams' here if I do not first call their name, get their attention, have them look at me...then I speak my request. This applies to all ages...even hubbies :p (and yes, it's ok for me to say that, he admits to it, in fact, he even pointed it out to me)

Nothing new to add, just wanted to ditto everyone else! Good luck! :D