“OK, guys. That’s 3, separate.”
This means that the children have to go to different places. They
cannot be together. It’s like the old bar-closing adage: “You don’t
have to go to your room, but you can’t stay here.” Both kids must
leave the room they were sharing. Where they go is their choice,
except that they cannot choose the same place. They may bring their
toys.
How Did She Do?
Good creativity by this mother. Separating them is more of an interruption or
redirection than a punishment. Separation can also be useful if the kids share a
room and can’t both go there for time-out. The separation period can last the
usual one minute per year of life, or it can be longer—until dinner is served, for
instance. If the kids don’t comply, the usual time-out is in order.Trouble at the Grocery Store
Round One
Rita is four years old and loves to go shopping at the grocery store
with her mom. The reason she loves shopping trips is because the
store has kiddie carts she can push around just like her mother does.
Rita’s mom, however, does not enjoy shopping with her daughter
quite as much. The reason Mom does not like these shopping trips is
because sooner or later, Rita always starts running around with the
cart. Last week the little girl ran into the big shopping cart of an older
gentleman. Although the man was nice about it and even laughed,
Mom is afraid her daughter will hurt someone.
Talk about the devil and the deep blue sea! If Mom doesn’t let Rita
have a cart, the girl will throw a raging fit—guaranteed—in front of
everyone in the store. Mom feels her daughter is running the show.