How much a 2 yrs old know between right or wrong? Are they just automatically annoy their parents because its fun? or they just playing dumb? Ds this morning found a permanent blue marker ( this child find anything these days) and he decided to write all over the living floor (hard wood floor ). Ohh he wasn't done there he grab a stool and use it to reach the coco puffs on the top of the fridge pour them all over the kitchen floor. Then he opened the fridge and throw out all the stuff inside on the floor (including milk,juice, leftovers, cheese) the dog had fun eating the cheese though she should be good for a while without food. He also wrote all over his face. YEAH ITS GOING TO BE WONDERFUL DAY! What a good day to start my week

My 2 year old knows the difference between right and wrong. She is 27 months. She gets a time out on the Dora sofa in her room, with a firm NO when she won't listen to me. She usually pouts for awhile and then comes out and give me a hug and kiss.

My 2-1/2 year old seems to understand the time out sessions as well. I started them just before he turned two. He will sit in the same chair for a time out. While he is there we talk about what he did that was "naughty". I try to make sure he understands immediatly when he had done wrong.

Oh, they will test us though!!! Maybe your son was trying to get attention for something at the time? I know if I am really busy and don't play with my son at certain times, he sometimes gets upset then knocks some toys around the room a bit. Then, he has to get a time out for throwing!!!

Mine just turned 2 1/2 this weekend and he is finally getting it. He was very, very mischevious from about 21 months until a couple of months ago. It seemed like he did stuff for the sole purpose of making me crazy - he was into everything. Time outs really don't work with him (they worked beautifully with my first son). I ordered a set of CDs called Love and Logic for Early Childhood that were recommended to us and they are great. They have lots of books and stuff too. The consequences for misbehavior are immediate and directly related to the behavior. So you decide to dump your cup out and spill your drink on the floor? Oh well, no more drink. You decide to throw the bin of blocks down the stairs? So sad, the blocks go away for the day. You throw a fit in the grocery store? Bummer, we have to leave without the food. It is more work for me, but it is really working for my son. It just makes more sense to him. It also helps me keep my cool when I punish him this way. I don't have to yell - I just deal with it and we move on. He definitely understands and he talks really well so we talk about it after he calms down, but we don't dwell on it. The acting out and tantrums are getting a million times better. Hang in there.

The child knows s/he was misbehaving but there is no consciousness of right or wrong. In other words, the child knows Mommy will be upset but the child can't relate to the idea of destroying things being a sinful act.

Let me put it this way ... we all know stealing is 'wrong'. Let's say you and your children are lost in the wood. You finally happen upon a cabin. You break in and eat some of the food that was left there. Technically, you're stealing even if you intend to re-imburse the cabin owner later. However, because this is a life-or-death situation, eating food that isn't yours is justified.

A 2-yr old can't make those leaps of reasoning. If stealing is wrong, then it is always wrong. If it is okay to sometimes steal because you're starving, then s/he will take the food off your plate at the dinner table when they want a little bit more to eat. It is ALL justified. There are no levels of moral decision making.

My advice ... maintain a sense of humor. Having a 2-yr old can be really fun.

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