At this age, if your child is doing something potentially dangerous, how do you enforce the "no"? When I tell her no, then she'll stop what she's doing maybe 50% of the time. The other 50%, I pick her up, take her away from whatever she's doing that's possibly dangerous, and put her down somewhere else. But she thinks it's a game and starts laughing, heading right back to what she was doing.
Obviously she's too young for any sort of "disciplining," but I'm just wondering whether there's anything more I could do to help her understand that when I say no, she's supposed to stop and it's not a game. Or is it ok for it to be a game at this stage? Sigh. I feel lost on this topic.
Re: Enforcing the "no"
I think repetition is key for sure. When she goes back to what she was doing, you pull her away and tell her no. Over..and over.. again.
Personally, I have a hard time not laughing at DS when he realizes he's doing something he's not supposed to and he laughs at me. Ugh.
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I'm just repeating the removal/words over and over for now.
Trying to touch something dangerous? "That's not safe" and move to another spot...over and over.
Pulling my hair/biting me/slapping his brother? "That's not nice" and move him away or put him down.
I don't think they really understand much at this age, but at least we'll get in the habit of doing it.
From reading a few books on development, I'm gathering that they do understand, but are helpless to comply. They lack self-control and are wired to touch and explore so they know they aren't supposed to do it, but can't stop themselves. We are also repeating and removing, over and over. Or just removing the offending item.
I personally use what I did with the dogs (so bad but so effective!). I would say "no" and then give a specific command. Like "No. Hot. Don't touch" and then pull their arm physically away. For hitting, it is "No hitting." that sort of thing.
DS1 didn't really get it until he was about 14 months. There's a point where you realize wow, they totally understand!
This. I have a thing about the negative words so when he pulls the dogs ears too hard I say "gently" and sign the sign for gently, over and over. This, or redirecting and removing the item or moving him on to a different spot/activity depending on what it is.
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