[HeavensMom]

I'm just curious to see the differences in parenting techniques us mama's use. I'm also looking for new ways to handle different things with the kids. So, what would you do in the following situations?

Do you make your kids eat everything on their plate, or stop when they say they're full?

Consequence for hitting a younger sibling?

Consequence for a hitting an older sibling?

Saying they finished their chores when they really didn't?

Talking back?

Stomping their feet as they walk away when you know they are mad?

Fighting over a toy?

Arguing about something nonsense?

Feel free to add any that you may be curious about

I'll go first!

Do you make your kids eat everything on their plate, or stop when they say they're full? I try and give them a small enough serving so that they eat all of their food. I'm kinda confused on this one though, i've heard you shouldn't make them eat everything cause then it causes overeating but if I don't my kids will say they're full after a few bites.

Consequence for hitting a younger sibling? Corner or extra chore

Consequence for a hitting an older sibling? Corner or extra chore

Saying they finished their chores when they really didn't? Extra chore

Talking back? Grounded for 1 day from friend and electronics or for younger kids corner

Stomping their feet as they walk away when you know they are mad? Grounded for 1 day from friends and electronics

Fighting over a toy? Toy gets taken away

Arguing about something nonsense? I have a hard time with this one, I try and say something like, " okay that's the end of it, we're done now go find something else to do". It's not working too well cause this is a constant in our house.

[mom2many2010]

Do you make your kids eat everything on their plate, or stop when they say they're full?
They stop when they are full, and if I know they should/could eat more they put it in the microwave for later.

Consequence for hitting a younger sibling?
Usually the corner, but sometimes I stay out of it and hope they figure it out on their own.

Consequence for a hitting an older sibling?
Usually the older sibling deals with it but mine are much older.

Saying they finished their chores when they really didn't?
Extra chore and they have to go and finish it.

Talking back?
Depends, mine are allowed to express their feelings, but disrespect is not allowed. I also don't have anything I do in-particular. I kinda wing it as it happens.

Stomping their feet as they walk away when you know they are mad?
Stomp away, I can stomp harder then you can. I don't play into temper tantrums...no matter how old they are.

Fighting over a toy?
Sometimes I take it, other times if I see that they might be headed towards a resolution I stay out of it.

Arguing about something nonsense?
Let em be, I am pretty good about tuning them out. If they come to me then I give my opinion.

[Momtothe6thpower]

Do you make your kids eat everything on their plate, or stop when they say they're full? I don't make them clean their plate. They do have at least try everything on their plate.

Consequence for hitting a younger sibling? Time out

Consequence for a hitting an older sibling? Time out

Saying they finished their chores when they really didn't? I usually make them start over and remind them that it wouldn't take so much of their time if they would have just done it right the first time.

Talking back? This one varies. I've found that there are so many different levels of back talking. Sometimes I warn then not to talk back, sometimes it's time out, room time, no electronics for a day or two (depending).

Stomping their feet as they walk away when you know they are mad? Ignore it. At that point (with my kids) they're just trying to make me mad. However, if they slam the door then they lose the door.

Fighting over a toy? The toy becomes mine.

Arguing about something nonsense? I either tell them to knock it off or sometimes I'll put them to work. If they can't find something better to do with their time then I will.

[MIL2lissy8]

good responses. since my grandkids are so young we mostly do time out for everything. wyatt is having a tough time with keeping up on chores (making his bed etc) and frankly i haven't really tried to fight it because this house is constantly in chaos with everyone here. i have sent him to his room lately if he has been really naughty and that seems to help him change up his attitude. about the food on the plate -- well if he eats any of it i am thrilled so i don't make a big deal out of it. one thing i do do is tell him he has to eat '5' bites of whatever he is dawdling about since he is 5 years old. or i will saw 'take two bites for uncle bubby, now take a bite for your sister etc'...thus getting him to finish more..

[clouise]

Do you make your kids eat everything on their plate, or stop when they say they're full?
Stop when they're full...however if they don't try everything and at least a decent amount of the main course and veggies they can forget dessert.

Consequence for hitting a younger sibling?
When they fight I make them sit on the couch and hold hands for five minutes. They they have to say something nice to the other person, apologize, and make-up. I am uninterested in who started it...any fighting and they are holding hands. The usually end up laughing by the end.

Consequence for a hitting an older sibling?
same as above

Saying they finished their chores when they really didn't?
Lying gets a spanking. I give them a chance to come clean and make good on their word first though.

Talking back?
Writing sentences....something like "I will be respectful to my mother and father" twenty times.

Stomping their feet as they walk away when you know they are mad?
No one does that here

Fighting over a toy?
Toy goes away...or they go back to the couch for more hand-holding time

Arguing about something nonsense?
I only have that one that will argue. I just tell her that the conversation is over, and then if she wants to pout and carry on I give her a chore to do or have her write sentences.

[UrbanMomma]

Do you make your kids eat everything on their plate, or stop when they say they're full? Eat what you can, stop when you're done. If they have never tried a certain food we are having I make them try one bite, if they don't like it, they don't have to eat it. If you don't like what I cook at all.....bowl of cereal.

Consequence for hitting a younger sibling? No hitting at all...apologize, seperated, quiet time to think. If it continues lose a privelege
Consequence for a hitting an older sibling? No hitting, have to apologoze, seperate them, sit down for a time

Saying they finished their chores when they really didn't? Don't get to do anything else until they finish it.

Talking back? Yeah, I agree with the expressing themselves to a certain degree. They know I am not going to listen to them if they are disrespectful. Loss of priveleges.

Stomping their feet as they walk away when you know they are mad? Be mad....I don't care

Fighting over a toy? Its mine for the rest of the day

Arguing about something nonsense? I stay out of it

[#5in2005]

Do you make your kids eat everything on their plate, or stop when they say they're full? they can stop when they're full, except for my youngest, she just tries to see if she can get away with it.

Consequence for hitting a younger sibling?We don't really have that anymore

Consequence for a hitting an older sibling?my younger ones wouldn't dare

Saying they finished their chores when they really didn't? We don't really have this one either, other than the dishwasher they do stuff in groups.

Talking back?i'll allow a certain minor degree of it with my teenagers

Stomping their feet as they walk away when you know they are mad? The rest imitate and/or will think it's funny and no one wants to be laughed at lol

Fighting over a toy? we only have fights over the wii occasionally and if there's fighting the wii goes off

Arguing about something nonsense? they'll have to figure it out on their own, or I'll send them to their rooms if it irritates me.

[HeavensMom]

I think I'm going to try some of your ideas Clouise, thanks! I forgot one huge issue we have in our house!! Tattling, what do you all do about it? It goes on allllll day long in my house!

[sarahlorrain]

First, I will say that I count my kids. If they do something unacceptable, I say "That's a 1." They keep doing it, it's a 2, or a 3. If they get to a 3, it's time out! If it's more of a serious offense, I may start counting at 2 or even give them a time out immediately. If we are doing school, they do time out standing up in the middle of the room, arms crossed. They are not allowed to move or talk. If it isn't school time, they are sent to their rooms to be alone. I try very hard not to spank my children at all. I get compliments on their behavior in public quite often, so I suppose it's working pretty well.

Do you make your kids eat everything on their plate, or stop when they say they're full? They can stop eating when they say they are full, but they don't get dessert if I don't feel they've eaten enough. If they say they are hungry for more later, they can eat more dinner. Or, if dinner is all gone they can have a piece of fruit.

Consequence for hitting a younger sibling? Immediate time out (if the one who got hit instigated it, he/she goes to time out too)

Consequence for a hitting an older sibling? Immediate time out (if the one who got hit instigated it, he/she goes to time out too)

Saying they finished their chores when they really didn't? Finish chores then time out

Talking back? counted

Stomping their feet as they walk away when you know they are mad? counted

Fighting over a toy? counted

Arguing about something nonsense? counted

Pretty much any type of acting up, yelling, arguing, light fighting with each other (no hitting), they get counted.

I will count as long as they are on that specific behavior. For example, if my son talks back, and I say thats a 1, then he does it again immediately, then that's a 2. But if the second time he does it is hours later, then that's a 1 again.

During long shopping trips I count to a 4. It doesn't matter what you do or when you do it. Each time you get to a 4, you earn a 5 min time out when we get home.

We also have a rule that if I see or hear the child after I put him/her to bed for any reason other than an emergency, then he/she will be grounded from the computer the following day. If I see/her him/her a second time, he/she will be grounded from the TV as well. For a third time, he/she can't play with the neighbor kids either. It doesn't usually get that far.

http://www.amazon.com/1-2-3-Magic-Ef...6500026&sr=8-1

This is the book I read that taught me about the counting method. I recommend it.

I've been thinking about how to deal with tattling a lot. I was thinking about putting both the tattler and the "tattlee" in time out. I figure if the person who tattled gets punished too, if they were lying they'll cut that out.

The only problem is, my kids have a hard time telling the difference between something they can tattle about and something they can't (ie. something that's dangerous vs something that isn't really important, like "Mama! He's copying everything i say!") Wah.

[MyBubRy]

I am legal gaurdian to my two oldest neices and my nephew (Maria, 11, Sarah, 7, and Owen 20 months)


Do you make your kids eat everything on their plate, or stop when they say they're full? I try to give the girls a set amount each, then if they feel they want more, there is always some leftover, but if they don't eat at least all of their veges, half of their meat and half of whatever else we are having (pasta, rice ect) they don't get dessert. Also, if they completly finish off dinner without me telling them to they get either a extra 10 minutes up, a bit more dessert or I'll give them extra help on homework the next day. (when I say extra, I mean I'll give them bigger hints and explanations)

Consequence for hitting a younger sibling? Let them sort it out themselves, if it gets too bad I intervene and take awya one prvilege each, no matter who started it because the girls always retaliate.

Consequence for a hitting an older sibling? Same as above.

Saying they finished their chores when they really didn't? If it is something to do with the horses, I make them go back and finish it to my highest standards or if it is something like cleaning their rooms ect, they have to finish the chore whit me watching the entire time and then do one of her sister's chores.

Talking back? it depends. When Maria is swearing at me in some language one of my brothers (not her father) taught her, I make her sit in front of me for half an hour with out talking or anything. Otherwise it is usually a 'Time out Aunty Cam style' which bascially means they have to help me mix the evening/afternoon/lunch time/morning feeds in complete silence, depending on what time of the day it is.

Stomping their feet as they walk away when you know they are mad? Stomping, I just ignore, it's just a way for them to get a reaction and attention, but I do not tolerate slamming of doors.

Fighting over a toy? I make them sit down and tell me why they each think they should have it, and if one of them has a good enough reason, they get it, if not, the toy is mine for the rest of the day/next day.

Arguing about something nonsense? I basically tell htem to go pester someone else about it because they are talking utter nonsense.

[pinupmama]

Do you make your kids eat everything on their plate, or stop when they say they're full? They can stop when they're full. If they eat like three bites of veggies, declare their full, and then ask for cookies, that's a no go. But for the most part if they say their done, they're done. If they get hungry again later, they can have more. Getting my kids to eat though has never been a problem. They're all eaters.

Consequence for hitting a younger sibling? Apologize to the sibling, and time out. Or for the older two loss of something (time outs don't really work with teenagers)

Consequence for a hitting an older sibling? Apologize to sibling and time out.

Saying they finished their chores when they really didn't? Finish all chores, sometimes with extras, and then have a long disscussion about how lying is wrong.

Talking back? Eh, kind of depends. We're a very sarcastic family, but if its out right mean or rude, or if they curse at us, we make them say their sorry and then depending on which one did it, we've made them sit and copy words from the dictionary that are better used for expressing their feelings.

Stomping their feet as they walk away when you know they are mad? Nothing, its an expression of anger and as long as they aren't hurting anyone or damaging anything its fine. I stamp my feet when I'm mad.

Fighting over a toy? I'll usually just take the toy away. Then nothing more to fight over.

Arguing about something nonsense? Let 'em argue. The twins got in a fight over who was Phineas and who as Ferb, I let them aruge it out. As long as they weren't physically fighting or name calling I'm fine with it.