Perhaps our mistake is that we give Zoe a warning, “Do you want to go on the naughty spot"?” when she is doing something that we are not very happy with. Let’s say, I just asked her to wipe her face and hands after dinner before she gets down to get everything sticky. She says

“No, I won’t”

So, I say, “do you want to go on the naughty spot”

She says, “Yes, I want to go on the naughty spot”

First I’m in shock, she wants to go on the naughty spot. Hmmm, does that mean I need to come up with a new punishment. I am not fond of spanking and pretty sure what just transpired does not even deserve a spanking, that’s for very serious offenses.

She is only three so is her brain capable of trying reverse psychology on me? Is she really trying to keep herself off of the naughty spot by saying she wants to go? So I’ve decided to say, fine, and be very very serious.

I put her on the naughty spot and tell her, “You are on the naughty spot because you were not listening to mommy”

Then when she gets off she’s a good girl. So no matter how her brain is working the naughty spot is still helping change her attitude. I do have very good kids.

You know, she does the same thing when she’s tired. She always tells me that she needs a nap and if I don’t listen to her she has a meltdown. It’s like she just knows she can’t handle the rest of the day unless she gets her nap, I just hate putting her down at 11 or earlier because then our afternoon will just drag on and on and on.

What does your child do?