Discipline: Does a toddler understand no?
I am having a discipline problem with my 15-month-old daughter. She bites, hits, kicks and seems to find every little thing to put in her mouth. She completely refuses to even react in the slightest when I tell her "NO!" I have tried several methods including holding her completely still until one minute after she starts fussing as well as time out in her playpen for five minutes when she won't listen. None of these seem to work. I'm worried that if I don't get her to listen to me now, it will be an even greater problem as she gets older.
Question:The year between one and two is one of the most trying years in childrearing. When a child has mobility but no understanding yet, it can be extremely difficult for the parent. I assure you that things will get better as your child gets older!
A 15 month old does not yet understand the concept of "no." That doesn't really start until the child is two years of age or even older.
You are expecting more than she can give you right now. If you would like your child to stop doing something, say what that is while you remove her from the situation. ("We don't touch hot stoves," for example.) She'll catch on to the idea of removal as discipline far faster she will to "no!"
Your daughter may be reacting so violently to "no" because there are too many of them. At 15 months, it is her job to explore her environment, and it is your job to let her as much as it's possible. Obviously, you can't let her keep the things she puts in her mouth. But this is one of the major ways that children between six months and two learn about the world, and it's a perfectly normal reaction on her part.
Try childproofing your home by moving anything small out of her reach. The more you can let your daughter explore, the better it will be for both of you. Real discipline can only begin later, when a child is old enough to understand what "no" means.
There are many wonderful books on the subject of development in children. Your One Year Old by Louise Bates Ames is a good one. This book will help you know what to expect, developmentally from your child.
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