Help

My daughter is 2 & 1/2 and she is into throwing everything. We tell her that its not nice to do that. We've tried saying No thats bad. Of course when we tell her this she gets upset and smacks or tells us No. In the mornings she refuses to get dressed without a fight. We put her in time out and we have spanked her bottom and it doesn't phase her. I know she is little and is still learning but I don't know what to do. Everyone tells me its a phase and it will pass but how do I handle it right now? Obvisously what I'm doing is not working. Thanks

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

This sort of willful behavior is 'par for the course', as we say. Employing systematic ways of (a) issuing directions, (b) setting limits and (c) disciplining is what is required. Carefully read, and then carefully follow, Lynn Clark's SOS Help for Parents and you'll be fine in managing your daughter's normal, even though bothersome, behavior.