Let's all come clean

[maynie]

Clicker training?!! lol I thought I had heard it all. I wouldn't feel guilty about that. I think it's genius. I would say I'm guilty of a lot of the aforementioned transgressions (most are really not even that bad). I also put my daughters clothes on when she went to bed because she went through a phase where getting dressed in the morning was so horrible and tedious we couldn't take it anymore. I feel the guiltiest about being too tired to play or read. I also spend too much time on my computer and don't want to get off when she wants to color or read a book. I always read it to her, but she wants me to keep reading it over and over. But I only do it once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids eat way too much Chef Boyardee. It's easy, quick and they will actually eat it.

Hey, at least they're eating! I get the evil eye from caregiver whenever one of mine doesn't down a plate of homemade food. And god forbid a processed food that's not 150% organic and full of more whole grains that the state of Iowa crosses our threshold.

As to food dropping, I have it on good authority (my own ) that children who don't consume bacterially-enhanced food items will do poorly on their SATs.

Now where can I get a clicker...

[Anonymous]

Wow, this is better than therapy, here is my list:

1. Work full time because I want to, not becasue I have to.
2. Yells/gets irritated at my almost 3 yo - mostly in the morning when I am trying to get out of the house and I feel that she is delaying me
3. I use her fears as threats to get her to do things. She is afraid a running water (will not get in the tub when the water is tap is on) and when her misbehaves I turn on the tap in the bathtub and tell that if she does not listen I will put her in the tub.

[clarabow]

Thank goodness you guys are confirming that all that random crap on the floor that ends up in his mouth is germ-free! I also totally let him eat paper when his dad isn't looking. I'll half-heartedly fish it out the first 5 times he goes to town on a paper towel for example but then I just sit back and say, what the hell, he's enjoying himself -- I'll intervene if he starts to gag.

[Anonymous]

This keep getting better and better! As a PP wrote-this is so much better than therapy!

[Anonymous]

My son eats his books. I only take the paper out of his mouth when my husband is around. I also let our dog kiss him all over his face. I'm looking for our clicker tonight! I really am going to try it-I've read, if you can train your dog, you can train your child! (And husband)

[Anonymous]

I know I have an old clicker somewhere too. Honestly it didn't work that great for the dogs, but heck, I wasn't that consistent so I'm willing to dust it off and take it out of retirement for a moment or two of peace. I also let my three dogs kiss my DS's face. He insists it tickles him down to his belly. I suppose I could start working on brushing my dogs' teeth more too. Ah, this is a slice of therapeutic heaven.

[Anonymous]

Floor food is ok, as long as it is from that day. I used to have the five second rule, then the thirty second rule, then the all day rule, then I got a dog, and that put an end to it.

[Anonymous]

PLease tell me - what is clicker training? Sounds cool!

[Anonymous]

Hi - I'm the clicker trainer - Oh you guys!!! That was a sincere confession, but you are making me feel better. Clicker training is the simplest way to train big dogs. Because, let's face it, after our lab was a year old you couldn't punish him unless you used a 2 x 4. Mom from 14:35 - this one would work for you if you could put up with the guilt.

You only click when they are doing something good, or repeating a behavior you want to encourage. You click, then reward - cheerio, hug, tickle, kiss, praise. You ignore the bad behavior. Dogs, kids and husbands HATE to be ignored. That's it, click and reward. 9 months and up are really easy to train (kids), they start the approval seeking behavior the same day to get a click. BUT... DON'T THINK YOU CAN SHARE THIS with other moms.

[Anonymous]

I'm home and found the clicker! I'm wondering though-if I say NO, and he stops, then I click and give a positive reinforcement? If he doesn't listen, then what???? I don't care what anyone really thinks, if it works, what the heck? And we're not beating our child!

[Anonymous]

If you don't have a clicker, the top from a snapple will work just fine.

[Anonymous]

No, you can't use the clicker unless the positive behavior is occuring and you have to click right then. If they are doing something negative, you ignore it, unless fire or blood are involved. Actively turning away works with dogs, I haven't tried it on kids. But they want attention, even negative attention, so if you turn away or walk away the message is should be there.

Once they are doing something you like, then click. They won't ignore it for long. Kids are much smarter than dogs, and dogs get it right away. They will try out different behaviors to see what gets a click.

I'm feeling guilty coaching this, but it does work. There are a a couple of good sites. I will go look and get back to you.

[Anonymous]

PLEASE don't feel guilty. I would much rather try this than slapping, pinching (my mom's favorite-but we didn't bruise)...and I know my patience only goes so far. I wouldn't pinch my son! But I do raise my voice an awful lot, and don't like to-I get down on myself when I do.

[Anonymous]

I imagine the whole clicker thing is an inside joke to your toddler and he knows it's funny. I used to tell my kids they were baby birds and make peeping noises to get them to eat when they refused to. I would hand feed them as a joke like a mommy bird and they loved it. My MIL thought it was horrible!