Last week when I put Kyle in a time-out, I picked him up and put him in his bedroom and closed the door. I counted on three minutes of peace instead of two, since he is now three years old.
He’s well aware of this, however. I soon heard banging on the door and Kyle yelling at the top of his lungs, “I am three years old and I’m gonna hit this!” More thumping, banging, and incoherent yelling ensued. When I went back in, his room was trashed.
I can’t say I blame him. Sometimes when I get really frustrated, I have been known to have a shitfit or two.
However, I would like to help him learn to deal with his anger. From now on, time-outs are served on a kitchen chair in the corner, but far enough away from other objects that he has nothing to hit. He’s welcome to yell, but we ignore him until the timer goes off. Then he is encouraged to apologize for his misdeeds, and we can hug and move on. If only adult problems were so easy to address…
OMG you SO have your hands full. I like how you do let him have his anger. That will help him deal with it as an adult. I can’t believe he trashed his room.
Wow. I don’t remember you kids ever doing that to your rooms…Wow. I like the kitchen chair time-out. I think it helps Kyle realize that while you acknowledge his anger you are not abandoning him to it.
… and if only we could put adults in time-out when they mis-behaved!
Thanks for letting us learn from you and your boys. We won’t put Luke in time-out in his room with the door closed. I think we will go right to the kitchen chair idea! Great idea.
Super Nanny would be proud of you! We use any “naughty spot” that is convenient – meaning it is close enough to the action that Luke sees what he is missing, but far enough removed that we can ignore his yelling. He usually takes off his socks and throws them. Wierd kid. I also make him tell me why he had a timeout when it is finished and apologize to anyone else if he needs to.