discipline issues with 16month olds

SO what do you all with kids around this age do for discipline. I am starting to have a number of issues with DD and DS

DS gets frustrated VERY easily and will throw down his toys and sometimes himself in a mini tantrum. IS there anything I can do to help teach him to beter handle his emotions... I have tried helping him to use his happy voice and talking calmy but too often I loose my own temper with his tantrums

DD - has started throwing her sippy cup (DELIBERATELY) from her her chair (broke one this morning and spilled milk ALL over the floor) we also keep a sippy cup of water on the coffee table and she is purposely walking up and knocking it over. I have tried teliner her now etc... and nothing seems to be gettting thru.

Can you start time outs at this age?? HOw will I get them to sit somewhere? And if they do sit somewhere they will just scream the entire time, is that REALLY teaching them anything since you cna't really reason with someone who can't talk back even though I KNOW They can understand more than they let on...

I guess I just need some guidance on dispcline issues that goes beyond just "no touch" and redirecting them away from things they shouldn't be touching.


Oh and one more thing, DD is such a drama queen and cries everytime she trips, falls down and is NOT hurt in anyway she screams. Do I ignore this or comfort her everytime?

sorry for all the questions I'm a little lost with this discipline thing and we're having a TERROR of a day

 

QUOTE(Erica92 @ Jan 30 2009, 02:24 PM) [snapback]1169466[/snapback]
SO what do you all with kids around this age do for discipline. I am starting to have a number of issues with DD and DS

DS gets frustrated VERY easily and will throw down his toys and sometimes himself in a mini tantrum. IS there anything I can do to help teach him to beter handle his emotions... I have tried helping him to use his happy voice and talking calmy but too often I loose my own temper with his tantrums

DD - has started throwing her sippy cup (DELIBERATELY) from her her chair (broke one this morning and spilled milk ALL over the floor) we also keep a sippy cup of water on the coffee table and she is purposely walking up and knocking it over. I have tried teliner her now etc... and nothing seems to be gettting thru.

Can you start time outs at this age?? HOw will I get them to sit somewhere? And if they do sit somewhere they will just scream the entire time, is that REALLY teaching them anything since you cna't really reason with someone who can't talk back even though I KNOW They can understand more than they let on...

I guess I just need some guidance on dispcline issues that goes beyond just "no touch" and redirecting them away from things they shouldn't be touching.
Oh and one more thing, DD is such a drama queen and cries everytime she trips, falls down and is NOT hurt in anyway she screams. Do I ignore this or comfort her everytime?

sorry for all the questions I'm a little lost with this discipline thing and we're having a TERROR of a day


Sounds somewhat like my two boys... can't wait to see what advise you get. Anyway, good luck

 

If you decide to start timeouts...just pick a spot and go for it. You will probably have to physically hold them there for the first couple days, then stand where they can see you so they don't get up for a bit after that. They don't just sit down in a time out without a little assistance (well, usually don't).

I think the things that worked for me at this age were to stay calm...remove them from the situation, firmly tell them No...throwing's not ok (or whatever the behavior is). If they have a temper tantrum to get back into the situation (like if you took them down from their high chair or whatever), then just walk away and ignore. After they calm down you can put them back, tell them cups are for drinking...NO THROWING (firmly again) kind of thing.

If you are consistant with the no tolerance thing for a couple days, they get it. No warnings...just immediate removal of whatever is going on.

As for the crying when falling down thing...how I dealt with that one is to stay a distance away and say "You are ok. Come here and I will give you a love". Often they get up and forget about it by the time they come over...or are happy with a hug and kiss and then move on. This, of course, was only if you saw it happen and know they weren't really hurt. Although at this age, I do think that most of the "drama" comes out of frustration over falling rather than actual pain.

 

Tantrums I ignored. Its no fun to have a tantrum without an audience .. so if ignored they usually give up this behaviour fairly quickly.
Throwing things .. VERY frustrating .. but they all seem to want to do it ! Whether it be toys or utensils .. all you can do it tell them "NO" and explain that throwing is NOT acceptable behaviour. Plus be consistant. For the longest time I wouldnt give my boys plates because they would end up on the floor in a matter of minutes anyway .. same thing with sippies. I would fill a cup with whatever they were drinking and would hold the cup while they drank through a straw ... then I removed the cup afterward.
I've never been a big time out "fan" .. but I agree with pp if you decide to go that route. I just think consistency is vital in showing that you mean what you say !

 

Thanks guys that's helpful- I put DS in a timeout today (used a bumbo chair that he fits in but cna't get out of unassisted) and have started using it as a way of removing him from the situation and giving him time to learn to calm down on his own and it seems to be working ok--

Thanks again I REALLY appredciate the advice