Timeout

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BEYOND TIME-OUT
Some Discipline Strategies Every Parent Needs to Know

CHANGE THE SCENE

The best way to discipline a baby under a year old combines baby-proofing with distraction. First, you have to make the house
secure so that your child can safely explore his environment. But because no place is ever 100 percent baby proof, whenever your
little one heads toward trouble-reaching for an electrical cord or the TV, pulling the dog's tail--simply get him involved in another
activity. You can't expect your baby to understand rules and consequences, although you can say no as you remove him from the
danger. Shouting "No!" however, will only frighten him, and hitting or shaking a baby should never be done. So constant supervision
is needed at this stage.

Distraction can also work with toddlers, and sometimes even preschoolers, who are easily overwhelmed if you say no-no too many
times. Instead of reprimanding, try drawing your child away from something off-limits by saying, "Come look at this," or singing a silly
song.

GIVE FAIR WARNING

For toddlers and preschoolers, who are just learning how to behave appropriately, it's best to give a reminder about a rule before you
enforce the penalty. In fact, a well-timed warning can avert trouble altogether, or at least stop it from continuing. If your son starts to
splash in the bathtub, you might announce, "Remember the rule: Water stays in the tub. If you splash again, you'll have to get out."

Warnings involve specific consequences that you must be prepared to impose if the behavior continues. They should be promises you
intend to fulfill, even if they're inconvenient: "If you unbuckle your seat belt again, we're going back home." Statements like "That's it!
I'm giving all your toys away!" or "You're really going to get it this time!" are either so exaggerated or so vague that they're
meaningless, and children quickly learn to ignore them.

REPRIMAND THE RIGHT...