Saying "no" vs. diversion

[stan4]

Hand swatting?
Even my 10 month old knows the word no.

[kahncss]

Originally Posted by WesternPilgrim

Not so. It only take one or two at any given time. And if he still doesn't get it by three or four (highly unlikely), you've made the the point and can just keep the candy or toys away.

Originally Posted by WesternPilgrim

I assure you many parents "set up their kids" in times past precisely because their time was limited. Taking a few minutes now and then, to focus exclusively on your child, saves lots of time in long run. You can just say "no" when your child is about to put a fork in the electrical outlet, and he obeys; "bring the fork to mommy", and he obeys; "please give this back to your sister", and he obeys. Imagine the time that saves.

You can try to spin this all you like - "lording it over their children", "setting them up for failure", but it just amounts to nothing but excuses.

I never had to stage candy raising my daughter. "Taking a few minutes now and then to focus exclusively on your child???" I was w/ my daughter 24/7 the first 3 1/2 years until she started 1/2 day preschool 3 mornings a week. A few minutes is hardly what it takes. Let's just hope your 8 mth doesn't choke on the staged candy when you aren't focuses exclusively on him/her.

[purehuman]

Originally Posted by WesternPilgrim

Let me just add that it's a revealing commentary on human prejudice when posters assume that a bit of advice dealing with a specific problem - and with children of a very narrow age group - amounts to a total parenting philosophy for all ages and all situations.

The only thing revealing in this "commentary" WesternPilgrim is that your "bit of advice" is not advice that most of these posters find acceptable or even reasonable...You assume that posters are assuming anything at all, I don't see that, I just see a strong disagreement with your methods of "teaching behaviours" in young children.