Help 😅🥲

I would take her by the hands and get down on her level and look her in the eyes and say NO! In a firm voice and say if you hit it and say you can’t watch your favorite show anymore bc it can break the TV. And then if she does it again, take her by her hands agin, and get down on her lever look her in the eyes and say. “I said NO! ( Definitely don’t yell!! ) and take her to time out for two to 3 mins. No longer then 3 mins though. Role of time out is you do it for as long as their age. And then you explain why you put them in time out. After time out is over lots of hugs and kisses! Hope this helps!!

@Christi thank you !!

My 3yo girl discovered smacking things (and people) at this age too. I tried to level with her in a calm and gentle way and tell her in a basic way (not lecturing her because they can’t retain attention for long or too many words, it just doesn’t work) so I just tell her “we don’t hit people” “we don’t smack things, we can get hurt or brake them” “I won’t let you hit your brother” “I wont let you smack xxx” It’s just a phase and she’s getting over it quickly. We are just consistent with that. It’s hard to stay regulated as a parent when they do that, but it’s super important they don’t see us reacting or that it triggers us. There’s a really good book for every age. For 3 it’s called “Your Three Year Old: Friend or Enemy” and it’s so accurate to what their development at this age.

Time out is not a healthy practice. There’s ton of info about it on why and how it affects children. I wouldn’t recommend it ever.

@Karen you’re welcome! It’s completely appropriate to put them in timeout for 2 to 3 minutes. I watch Joe frost. She’s a professional famous nanny. You should look her up! She has excellent advice! I don’t spank my son either.

@Dorana I’m sorry, but how is it damaging to a child I’m not hitting my child or hurting him call me he is taking a small break. Two minutes is not long at all for a 3 year old and he can see me from his time out spot. If you don’t punish your child in a gentle they will not learn. They cannot smack somebody over and over and not have a consequence.

I got the Spot emotions book for toddlers. We talk about emotions and how we can show emotions. I was a teacher for a while and specifically work with children who needed behavioral support. We all have emotions and they are normal and we need out let’s. Kids at that age are discovering their emotions and they are exploring their reactions and our reactions to them. Time out is actually great because it establishes boundaries but needs to be approached in the right way without a “you’re being punished”. It needs to be clearly set up as a consequence that is present prior to the bad behavior. Instead when child is calm you set up actions and consequences. They earn and receive positive reinforcement. If they don’t behave in a way for that they don’t get it. You don’t take what they have already earned away. That is negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement can include sticker chart, money bank with fake coins, or marble jar they earn and fill up. Don’t take away

A good rule of thumb with “time out” when established as a consequence whne they made the choice to push the boundary is the time they sit is the same as their age. So 3 year old = 3 minutes