So today, Penny was a really "bad baby." She bit Nathaniel on the cheek. Really badly. I put her in the time out corner. This was the second time I ever put her in time out. It took her awhile to stay there, but finally she got the point.
After two minutes of continuous sitting, I let her get up and led her back to her brother. I pointed to his cheek and told her that what she did hurt him and I asked her to say sorry. Boy did she cry!!! Was she said that she hurt her brother. I don't think so since I don't believe children at that age can feel empathy. But maybe a person with Down syndrome are more advanced in that area? Who am I to judge? I think it more likely that she was upset by my tone and that she was put in time out.
What do you think?
3 comments:
I think its a little bit of both. I think she may be to young, but also DS kids only know to love and she may have understood what you said to her.
We're exploring this for the first time, at almost 3 years old... and I'm still trying to decide on a plan. The only issues that have come up to this point have been things that she gets scolded for and then she says she's sorry and that's it. She is not a repeat offender. :o)
I'm not a fan of time-out, not against in general--like I think it's bad or anything, just haven't seen positive results with it in any kid I've known personally, and I don't think it would make the slightest impression on mine anyway. (Sit in a chair? Sure, no prob. As long as you like...she wouldn't mind at all. She loves her quiet time.) And we've never really had any kind of issues to discipline, but now she's getting a bit of an attitude and I'm not sure how we're going to address it. I'll be interested to see what others say.
I don't know if I can add anything about Penny's reaction, but as far as discipline and DS, our 6-year-old son has struggled with aggressive behavior since he was at least 2, and time outs, rewards, withholding special experiences are all limited in their results. Even though he's very sorry afterward, and says things like "Brother sad!" He just has a hard time registering that thought BEFORE he kicks, pushes, etc.
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