How to start 123 Magic

So I read 123 Magic months ago, but I'm just now feeling ready to start implementing it. How did you go about starting this with your kids? Did you do an explanation beforehand or did you just start counting? Did you count for everything or did you start with just a few of the most annoying/frustrating behaviors? Anything else I should know or be prepared for?

Right now, we're able to redirect/distract for many circumstances, and they also listen and obey a lot of times too. For instance, they stand on the dining room chairs at least 5 times a day, but when I tell them to sit on their bottoms, they obey 95% of the time and if they don't sit down I physically sit them down myself. So that's working for us. However, I am so stinking tired of the whining and the fighting!

 

Good questions I look forward to reading the responses. I've heard to try to work on the biggest issues first so that you're not too overwhelmed and the kids aren't too overwhelmed with a complete overhaul. But, maybe doing it all at once also works well. Either way, I'd think that an explanation of at least the basic "house rules" would be a good idea and then let them know you're going to be making them more accountable for their behavior and they may notice some new things going on. I don't know, just some thoughts. I'm getting ready to get started on some more behavior issues as well and would like to hear what others have to say.

 

When I started the counting thing, my kids knew what the biggies were going to be. There are just a few things that I can't abide and they know it and that's what I use 123 magic for. It's not my only technique. For example, I use just plain ignoring for whining and tantrums. I use a timer for taking turns with things. I use natural consequences a lot. But when I ask them to do something and they don't do it then it's 1-2-3.

 

I just started counting. We started it just after they turned 2 and I didn't think they would understand any kind of explaination. I figured just by doing, they would eventually get it. I think the book says "when in doubt count". However, I don't count for everything. I probably should count more often than I do. I mainly use it for tantrums. At the end of 3, if they haven't settled down then they go to their room. We still do alot of redirection and distraction when we can. The way we do it probably isn't technically correct, but that's how we do it anyway. ardon: