Description of discipline technique:
It is surprising how young a child understands "Mommy does not like this game!" Try it! That is all it takes much of the time. If not, I told my babies we had to change their channel & twisted their ear a little with whoop-whoop sound effects. That worked 90+% of the time. Finally, "1...2...3," they go to their room until they have sufficiently changed channels. It never took long.

I am sorry to say I did spank my children (rarely), but now I am a "Nonna" and no longer believe in spankings.

I adopted a foster daughter last year who is 4 now, and we change channels by pushing buttons (remote control) ie...noses, bellybuttons...etc, and seclusion is now called "Time Out". (My adult children think she needs spankings like they remember so well.)

This technique grows with kids as they take control of changing their own channels. The dialogue evolves to "I will not accept this behavior!" and "You had better change your attitude!" and (1-2-3) "Grounded!!"

Children need to recognize the pattern & correlate as pre-teens that society will not accept their unacceptable behavior as adults either. It will send them to court & consequently to their room in jail. Children must be taught & guided to reponsibly monitor their channels to change them as needed to become responsible adults. Seclusion is a punishment no one wants.

On rare occasions when little ones just can't get their channel to change, please remember how very long ONE minute is for a small child. I have a 3 minute egg timer for Zoe or my grandchildren to watch. My adult children keep asking if I'm sure I'm the same Mom who used to "BEAT THEM!" :-)

Appropriate age group(s):
Young toddler to 75

Other suggestions or comments:
If you make it to 75...do what you want & pass it off as senility!