My grandson is three and two months. I watch him full-time. I cajole, play, read, paint, draw, play ball, walk outside, etc. with him and I take him to classes with other kids and their moms/grandmas/etc. three times per week. We usually try to talk with him about the "choices" he makes. What is his "best" choice in a given situation. We don't use it for every little thing, but it does work.

Yesterday at class he was walking away from his teacher and friends, across the gym, acting as though he could not hear me when I told him to stay near/come back.

I spoke to him one more time. No response. I walked over to get my coat and purse and told him to come now as we were leaving. He came running over to me saying "no, no, I want to stay in class." So we had a chat about his choices and how important it is to listen to his teacher. We stayed and had fun.

Today he had to wait with my husband while I was in with the acupuncturist. They'd gone to lunch and come back. He was quiet because we'd explained to him the need for quietness and he sat down and looked at a book for about fifteen minutes, no problem.

Diversion is a wonderful thing with young children. Just as in training pets, to stop one behaviour, divert them with some new thing. Of course you don't want to stop all tears, etc. you want them to grow up being able to express themselves, but in the case of the hospital, a quick diversion, playing peek-a-boo (i do that, too, Susan!) sitting with them and a book, crayons and paper or even giving them a cracker, etc. would have been better. Parents have to watch their choices, too.

Mary, I cannot lift Morgan; he weighs too much for me, so IF he wants to go to class he has to show me he is ready and willing.:-)

Once in a great while, I do lose my temper, get grouchy, and even raise my voice. He is a smart kid and quite able to express himself, his pleasure, sadness and anger. I get told, "Mama don't talk like that." Then we both calm down, talk it over and agree to be "nicer." I also give lots and lots of positive reinforcement and ya know what? He's picking it up, doing the same thing back to us, telling me "good catch" when I grab the ball or his mom, "good job!" It is SO much fun!

As to computers. I was all for none and no tv in his life at least until 5 or 6, but that's a battle i lost. It is balanced. he is brilliant on it and has been since he was quite young. He gets to play educational games and watch music, animal, dance, etc. videos, mostly things that have been posted, here, from youtube. He will say, "That's enough, Mama" and walk away from it before I am actually done and that is fine with me. I have finally decided the computer is not a horrible thing...it just has to be balanced with physical activity, books, singing, playing instruments, seeing friends, studying hands-on, i.e. pencil and paper, etc, etc,.

Today, I was working on the computer. He asked to play a game on it and I told him no. BUT, I did bring up the midi for Walzting with bears and told him I'd learned a new song to sing to him. As soon as I started the midi and began to sing he ran from the room. I was wondering why until he came back in with the baritone uke, sat down and started to pluck it as I sang. That led to him getting the autoharp and plucked psaltery, asking for my pickbag and luring me away from my work. We had a blast.

It doesn't always work, but we use "time out" more than anything. You have to mean it and be consistent, as well as inventive if you are not at home where the usual seat and timer are available, but it still works.