When to put a 2-year-old in time out?

Question

My 2 year old niece spends quite a bit of time with us, and since she isn't disciplined at home I am taking on that rule. I have made a time out chair for her and intend to use it a lot. The problem is I am not sure about certain things and whether or not it calls for a time out.

I will put her in time out if she tries to kick, punch, hit, bite, etc, but other than that I am not sure of the other things I should put her in time out for...

For example, when she doesn't get her own way, she starts rubbing her eyes and glaring at whoever she isn't happy with and then starts wimpering and whining...is that something to consider time-out for?

When she gets mad a someone, sometimes she will scream at them (it's mostly jibberish, but she can get a swear word in and usually does when she yells)...should I put her in time out for that?

Please no rude answers, my husband and I don't have our own kids yet.

Answer 1

That's good that you're establishing this at your place!  You may want to try to persuade the parents to do the same, so you won't have to battle re-teaching rights and wrongs.  But if they don't follow through, then eventually your efforts will be rewarded.  Young children can learn many different rules for different environments they have to stay in (i.e. rules for daycare, rules at Grandma's etc.).

Discipline for kicking, punching, hitting, and screaming incoherently.

If biting is becoming a big issue, then you should get right in her face, and bite the top of her hand just enough to slightly pinch it with your teeth. Then with a very stern look and voice, tell her "No, biting!  Didn't that hurt? Biting hurts." You can test your bite out on the top of your own hand first, so you don't bite too hard.

When whimpering and whining, just say to her, "I don't listen when you're whimpering/whining."

Time outs should last only 2 minutes, and then, very important, you should discuss with her the inappropriate action, why it's bad, and then something she could do that is acceptable.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

At two when she uses a swear word she doesn't know what it means.  She uses it when she throws a tantrum (which is what she is doing) because she has heard her parents use them when they are angry.  Children learn what they hear and see in the home.  Time outs for her using such language isn't needed because it isn't her fault.  You are blaming her for what she has been taught.  If you want to blame someone call her parents on the carpet for it...including all of her behavior.  When she has a tantrum ignore it.  Let her scream and yell...walk away, the tantrum is designed to get your attention and to give the child her way.  When you walk away you are not giving your attention and not giving in to her demands.  Eventually they will stop.  As for her hitting biting kicking...time out is great...about two minutes.  

Also a good long talk with this child's parents is in order.  You may even have to tell them you're no longer going to watch her until they start following through on the discipline you are teaching her.

Answer 3

I think that everything you have mentioned is a good reason for a time out. The glaring thing, maybe say something like "Keep that up and you'll go in time out." Just so she knows that it isn't good behavior to act that way.

Answer 4

most definately she should go to time out for yelling or cursing and you tell her if she wants to keep it up (when she starts glaring and all of that when she gets mad) she can go in time out, if she continues put her in time out. it sounds like this child needs a little mouth washing because i have never heard of a 2 year old getting in a swear word in when they yell. if the time out doesnt work, then what you need to do is take it up a step further like taking away T.V. time or desert when she does something bad and add on time out. taking away toys because she's misbehaving. but you have to make sure that you chastise here immediately because if you don't she wont know what she did wrong. so as soon as she starts yelling you put her in time out and tell here that she isn't going to get to watch T.V. for so many hours or maybe the rest of the day and tell here that she is going to get these toys taken away. there are many ways to discipline a child. this one sounds like a more serious case. usually 2 year olds don't curse unless they are around it or they watch it on T.V. so monitor what she watches and talk to her parents about it. i hope this helps.

Answer 5

Reminds me a lot of dealing with my youngest grandchild.  He definitely gets a timeout for anything physical.  As to the others, I simply tell him to let me know when he is over is temper tantrum.  This usually stops him as he soon realizes, he isn't getting his way.

Answer 6

You should only be working on one behavior at a time.  If she's in the time out chair all the time, it's going to lose its effectiveness.  She's going to believe there's no way she can please you.  Pick one thing, like hurting others (kicking/punching/hitting/biting).  Use the same words each time: "no kicking, that hurts people.  Go to time out."  "no hitting, that hurts people.  Go to time out."  Once you've gotten her to stop hurting other people, then you can pick the next behavior that bugs you the most and work on that one.

Answer 7

Tell her that the only place she is allowed to have these temper tantrums are in the timeout chair and she can't leave until she is done. Have the chair face the wall, that way, no matter where you are, if she acts up, she will be able to face the wall, because there is ALWAYS a wall. haha. When she handle's a situation appropriately, tell her that you are proud of her and motivate her. if she swears, tell her kindly to stop and if she doesn't listen, time out chair. Never use the timeout chair for a first offense, only a second offense, you can use it as a warning. It's good that you are taking on the responsibility to discipline her, but make sure she knows that you love her dearly and would do anything for her. Having her remember how much you love her and want her to grow up well will help you develop a strong relationship between you and her.

Answer 8

time out is used for Kicking anything that should not be kicked. punching things or people. biting and screaming at adults and swearing. we also use it when my nephews or babysitting kids are mean to our animals.

Answer 9

Warn her before you put her in time out.  You only put her in for two minutes though, one minutes per year.  If she starts to throw fits, tell her if she doesn't stop she will have to be put in time out.  Always give the child a warning unless it has to do with kicking, punching, hitting, biting, etc.

Answer 10

I think that it is good that you are disiplining her, as for time out I think all of them are good reason to go to time out except the glaring thing.

Answer 11

Put her in time out when she doesn't listen or respect you or even when she does not do as she was told. Put here in time out for 2-5 min. depending on what she did wrong If she yells at anyone time out for at least 2 min and if she keeps on standing up and down take her chair and make it like 5 min!! If doesn't get her own way, she starts rubbing her eyes and glaring at whoever she isn't happy with and then starts wimpering and whining give her a 2 min time out!!But don't for get to reward her. Get a star chart and like get her chocolate for each 5 stars !! Hope i helped!!