Yep. Ppl don’t give kids enough credit. They’re incredibly smart and crafty little things. They definitely respond to spankings at early ages. We starting swatting wrists at 12 months on our first one, but developmentally he was way ahead at that age. He was talking in complete sentences like an adult. Our others we started about 16-18 months.

It is hard to know what to do. Do your best, spend lots of time with him.

Keep this in mind. He is a little boy. You can't expect him to sit still for 2-3 hours. He will probably get in trouble at school, because it is design by women for girls.

That isn't ADD or any thing like that. If you it is easy to just sit down & pay attention then watch the superbowl half time show on loop for 3 hrs tonight and see how long you can pay attention.

Like others mentioned. I think spanking should be on top of other forms of discipline in cases of clear defiance/intentional disobedience and not just a kid being a kid or has gotten overloaded by a situation. I think it’s appropriate for them to expect that during outright disobedience especially since there will be the occasional safety matter (I told you not to play near the road, run beside the pool, reach up for a pot handle, etc). When they are older I think they ought to have a fear of consequences during disobedience, but not fear you as a loose cannon person, or be in confusion of if their parents love them or want to harm them.

It’s a difficult process. I think a good person has it built in to them to navigate if they keep from doing it angry and stay close to the Lord. Good luck.

we started with popping the top of their hands at first ( it’s a fog at this point but would guess 10 -11 months old , when they started walking) my oldest is 8, i can make him cry now by staring at him. he only got a few whippings. my 5 year old daughter however…. she’s built different 😂😂. moms spankings just piss her off and 2 min later she will do everything in her power to get another one. the ONLY way to not blur the line of spanking vs beating to get her attention, is to talk to her before and after the spanking to calm her down or it won’t stop. once she’s calm, i make her stay in her room for 10-15 min

I forgot to mention that any physical punishment was reserved for intentional willful disobedience, not forgetfulness or typical child like shenanigans.

My oldest is about 5. Middle is nearly the same age as yours. As others said, we only spank for intentional disobedience. I hate doing it but it is the only thing that works. 9.9/10 times the threat of a spanking works wonders on the oldest.

We are just starting that with the youngest. So far, it hasn't been true spanking. Mostly just a pop on the hand when we tell him not to grab/touch something.

Like a coon dog..whoopem til they dont tree possums no more

He is old enough now, and when he sees/feels your attitude change, he will know daddy means business. WHASB

Lots of good suggestions here.

The only thing I will add is we never used our hands to punish either of our kids. We used a switch, flip-flop, wood spoon, etc. We didn't want our kids to associate our hands with pain/punishment.

Flip flop?
That’s DANGEROUS!

Every kid is different. But like said above kids are way smarter than given credit for. IMHO the terrible 2's and 3's is a result of failing to start discipline early enough. What many people think is cute at 12 to 18 months turns into problems later on due to lack of boundary recognition.

1. Never in anger. If angry pray.
2. Be consistent, talk to your wife make sure you are united on what type of discipline, what is a discipline offense and what level.
3. Be consistent with timing, don't make empty threats or call their name 3 times.
4. Explain before and after discipline.
5. Redirect after, give them something else to do or focus on.
6 I have to work on my own self discipline, self control, and intentional time with my kids.

LOL

1000%

My daughters got popped a time or two, but they were really great kids

I believe that every child is different and perhaps punishment should be different for every child.

My Dad was a belt guy, if he spanked you - you knew it.. In all honesty - he was very professional about it, never emotional, always appropriate, and very consistent. I would say that I got a lot fewer spankings than I deserved. For me - it was a matter of fact, I didn't try to run - I just stood there and took it. My sister (middle child) on the other hand, would go ballistic - running in circles, screaming at the top of her lungs, it was an emotional thing at our house - you would think Dad was trying to kill her - which is probably why she probably only got 2-3 spankings. My little brother (the same age as my son) on the other hand - he was amazingly hard-headed/stupid/disrespectful. He would try to explain things to my Dad, which was always a bad idea. When spankings didn't work, grounding kicked in, when grounding didn't work taking things would begin, when taking things didn't work...etc. it was always a circle of punishment for him. He eventually grew out of it, but it was a difficult time for him.

Our son got a few spankings, but generally speaking he was a very good kid. Spanking in our house was the last resort (as stated above - intentional disobedience) - timeouts, removing things or activities that he enjoyed for a while,...etc. Since he was an only child - taking things or activities that he enjoyed was probably the worst for him.

Wow..daddy beat the chit out of us…ive been whooped with a hose pipe, broom handle..an a 7ft bionic blade from the bass pro shop..makes sknce now..some of yall aint had a real beatin

And my Lord don’t do the counting thing. Please. It’s disobedience the first time you tell him to do something.

Matt I wish my dad had followed that way of thinking 😂

Too many variables to give a concise, correct response.