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Is two years of age too young to use the naughty step?
Do you think two years of age is too young to use the naughty step? My Samuel has just turned two and sometimes tests me and says 'naughty step' just to see what I will do.
I have now got him to stay on it, but when I go back for the apology he cries thinking I'm going to put him back on it. I wonder if two minutes is too long at that age and he has forgotten why he's there. It only takes around three to five times to get him to stay put, and I've only put him on about four times at the time of writing this.
piersmum
I would say at two years old, if you have a child who is mentally mature and you have good communication going on then the naughty step is fine for them to go on. But a child won't remember. Two minutes is definitely fair - as I always say one minute as per their age.
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If your child has a good attention span for a two-year-old, so they will sit down and do a puzzle for example, and shows progression in actually doing things, then two minutes is good. If you haven't even started to build their concentration span to allow them to follow through with anything they've started, then two minutes is going to be a very long time. So be realistic. You know your child.
If you haven't done your homework with them during the day, then it's going to cause you problems when you do a technique with them. So maybe one minute would be more preferable.
But it should all go hand in hand with what you're doing with them during the day. If you can do a 15-minute arts and crafts with them during the day, and they're completely engaged, then they should be able to do a two-minute naughty step. If the child can't even sit down and sit still for any length of time, then you need to work on improving their attention span and concentration.
Don't forget though that a two-year-old child is exploring their boundaries, they're exploring the world, so be realistic about what you are placing them on the naughty step for. You need to let them explore and have fun too.
Don't try to control everything through threatening the naughty step. Spend time in a positive manner teaching the child the hazards of home and explain why (this is all a learning curve for your young son - he wasn't born knowing) before ever using discipline.
All the best,
Jo
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