Learning Shapes and Throwing Fits!

JG is certainly not happy when he hears the word No! Recently he has gotten into the habit of screaming when he doesn't get his way. We know that currently this is the only way JG feels that he can express his anger but, I am determined to help him find other ways to express himself. Currently we have been escorting JG to his bedroom and shutting the door for two minutes each time he screams in anger. I want JG to understand that it is "okay to feel angry" but, that "it is not acceptable to scream at us." I also want JG to know that his room is an appropriate place to go when he feels mad and needs a moment to regroup. At the same time I want to start giving him words he can use to express himself...

Me on the way to the JG's bedroom: "JG it's okay that you're angry but, it's not okay to scream at Mommy and Daddy when you're mad....You need to say "I'm really mad!"

Me upon returning to JG's bedroom 2 minutes later: "JG you can't yell at Mommy and Daddy when you're upset." You need to use words like "I'm really mad!" "Are you finished feeling mad?"

Usually after two minutes in his room JG is ready to rejoin us.

On a more positive note JG is finally learning how his shape sorters really work and he is now able to put most of the shapes into the sorter without adult help...He can now roll the shape sorter around by himself to find the correct hole that each shape fits into....He still has difficulty and minor frustration with some of the more complicated shapes (those that require you to manipulate the shape in a different direction to get it into the hole; like the pie or trapezoid) but, he doesn't have problems with the more basic shapes (circle, oval, cross or star).

DH and I also took JG on a wagon ride just prior to JG's naptime. JG was excited to go for a ride as always but, half way home JG's head was nodding and he was falling asleep so we rolled up Mommy's coat under his head and he slept in the wagon as we headed home! One of the sweeter moments of the day....