Maize - Administrator (beliefs, evolution, theist, faith, verse)

[Green Gaia]

Originally Posted by fromthe heart

What do you feel is the best course of action when one of your kids disobey? Do you believe in time-outs or corpral punishment or just what do you see as teh best way for a parent to discipline their kids? I have a feeling your kids are your main passion in life.

What are you talking about? My little angels NEVER disobey. Yeah, right!

It depends on the situation, the child and the age of the child. I think you have to manage each situation differently and each child differently. What works with my son, doesn't with my daughter, she is much more strong-willed and stubborn than he is. But overall time-outs work really well for me and my kids know that when I say, "time-out" or "go sit on the stairs" that they've messed up. Besides a rare quick swat on the behind, I don't use corporal punishment. I don't think it helps, it just makes the kid more upset and the parent feel bad. But I think the most important way to discipline is to manage situations before they get out of control. If my daughter refuses to clean up her room after the first time I've asked her to put her toys away, instead of yelling at her or spanking her, I just calmly go get a trash bag and hang it on the door of her room and say, "when I come back in here anything that is still on the floor or is not where it should be, I'm putting in this bag and taking to Goodwill and they will give it a kid who will take care of the toys and appreciate them." Works like a charm and without any crying or screaming. :

[Green Gaia]

Originally Posted by evearael

On the same line of questioning, what advice do you have for a very new mother with a very active 13 month old daughter?

JUST LOVE HER! And play, cuddle and sing every second of the day that you can with her. I'm sure you already do that.

But I suppose you're asking about discipline, and I would have to know what problems you're having before I can answer that properly. I will say that I introduced time-outs (at the advice of my pediatrician) to both my kids at about 12 months. So that may be something you'd want to talk to her doctor about. They can give you a step by step guide for introducing it and how and when to use it. So many parents do it incorrectly and it therefore is not effective. But done correctly, it can curb unwanted behavior very quickly. I got my son to stop biting me by using the time-out method in about a week, and nothing else had worked before then.

[fromthe heart]

Originally Posted by Maize

What are you talking about? My little angels NEVER disobey. Yeah, right!

It depends on the situation, the child and the age of the child. I think you have to manage each situation differently and each child differently. What works with my son, doesn't with my daughter, she is much more strong-willed and stubborn than he is. But overall time-outs work really well for me and my kids know that when I say, "time-out" or "go sit on the stairs" that they've messed up. Besides a rare quick swat on the behind, I don't use corporal punishment. I don't think it helps, it just makes the kid more upset and the parent feel bad. But I think the most important way to discipline is to manage situations before they get out of control. If my daughter refuses to clean up her room after the first time I've asked her to put her toys away, instead of yelling at her or spanking her, I just calmly go get a trash bag and hang it on the door of her room and say, "when I come back in here anything that is still on the floor or is not where it should be, I'm putting in this bag and taking to Goodwill and they will give it a kid who will take care of the toys and appreciate them." Works like a charm and without any crying or screaming. :

I'm shocked...you answered that exactly as I'd thought you would...I totally agree with that...but it doesn't always get done here without one or the other trying to outwit their mother somehow...they may be cute little guys but they are smart too>>>HA..HA My daughter handles her kids they same as you do...the older they get teh more clever they get as well...how old are your kids?

[Green Gaia]

Originally Posted by fromthe heart

...how old are your kids?

My son is 6 1/2 and my daughter will be 4 next month.

[fromthe heart]

Originally Posted by Maize

My son is 6 1/2 and my daughter will be 4 next month.

That explains the similarities.

[dawny0826]

Maize, you're children are so beautiful.

What's your favorite thing to do with the kids?

Are they picky eaters? Emmie, my four year old can really be challenging.

[robtex]

You seem to gravitate more towards Buddhism than much of the other religions. Is this an accurate assement and if so why? Where were some of your more memorable places you hiked. If you are comfortable tell us more about your children.

[Green Gaia]

Originally Posted by dawny0826

What's your favorite thing to do with the kids?

That's hard to decide. I love to take them to the movies because we don't go often and they get so excited, it's cute to watch. We enjoy going to the park, reading together, making dinner.. there isn't much I do without them.

Are they picky eaters? Emmie, my four year old can really be challenging.

My son is not a picky eater at all. He will eat most anything except onions and mushrooms. He loves green vegetables and always complements my cooking. The girl on the other hand.... is a bit more picky. Basically if it's not got cheese, bread or fruit in it, it's not passing her lips. Although her brother has gotten her to try broccoli and brussel sprouts, and now she'll eat those.

[Green Gaia]

Originally Posted by robtex

You seem to gravitate more towards Buddhism than much of the other religions. Is this an accurate assement and if so why?