Since my Samuel has turned three I have really had to dig down and start disciplining him. It’s really the first time I’ve had some issues with him and he isn’t acting out horrible, but he has picked out the bad habit of telling people to “stop it” .
When we first noticed this, my husband and I caught ourselves saying “Sam stop saying stop it.” Then we were like that’s counterproductive. We decided to start giving him one minute of time out whenever he said it wherever he said it.
The first few days he would get mad and cry, but by about day three he would go to the chair, apologize to whoever he had said it to, and sit there quietly until it was time to get up.
After about a week, we noticed we were not having to send him to time out. I would catch him almost say it and would correct himself and say “no” (in a nice way) or he would just like at me and say “I sorry mommy.”
Samuel has such a tender heart. If I say you are in trouble he melts down on the spot, but this method has really worked for us. I am super proud of him. I know our discipline will probably get harder rather than easier as he grows but this was a total mom win for me and I had to share in case others needed a pick me up.
Sidenote: The first few days I would cry when I would have to put him in time out because his tears broke my heart, but being consistent is what helped us!
Don’t get discouraged if you’re going through the terrible two or threenage years…we are right there with you!
Becoming Four 