Ok.. So I spent the first year and a half at home with my son. Then I had to go back to work last August. Kal has been in daycare during that time. I am a teacher and now I am back at home with him. He is giving me resistance with EVERYTHING! Time outs do not seem to work. He just gets up and runs off no matter how many times I put him in the naughty spot. I also just spent 2 hours trying to get him down for a nap... unsuccessful. I am trying my best to stick to a schedule, but he wants to do what he wants to do, and if he doesn't get his way, he will literally scream for 45 minutes... HELP!! any advice?

The screaming is the same as fits; you should ignore it. Walk away, leave the room it you have to, and pay him no attention what-so-ever until he is calm. When he does this he is getting a reaction out of you; whether it results in just your undivided attention or getting his way, he is getting the results he is looking for.

When you use timeouts you should stand there to make sure he stays put. He should stay for a minute per a year of age after he is calm.

Your best weapon is praise for good behavior.

I would keep doing what you are doing. Be consistant. When he is throwing his fits just let him. Dont give him any attention. When my son doesn't get his way and starts whinning and throwing his little fits I tell him to go to his room and that when he can be good and stop whinning and screaming he can come out. He hates being in his room by himself. Even though there are toys in there. He doesn't like the idea of having to go unless he wants to. It helps a little bit. As for nap time. How old is your son? I would make him lay down for at least an hour. Tell him he doesn't have to sleep but he needs to lay down and rest so he wont be tired later when its play time. If you can lay down with him. Then you know he will lay down. I know I do this sometimes with my son. No tv or anything just lay down and eventually my son falls asleep. I hope this helps. Good Luck!!!

dont ingore him when he throws a fit bc your just gonna make it worse, let him set his own schedule and enjoy being home with home. if time outs dont work then dont do them, just explain to him that he cant do whatever he is doinng or remove him away from the situation. I let my son set his own schedule and hes fine, perfect actually! he doesnt get time outs, if he does something wrong we tell him no and explain why he cant do that. why spend the time your home with him putting him in time ot

I don't know. I think you just haven't put any fear in your kid's heart.

I know a lot of people these days want to be all cuddle cuddle with their kids, but they are the same people who have behavior issues with a kid. A child. You're the adult.

When you say something, you have to mean it. Sometimes, "okay sweetie, mommy REALLY wants you to sit down and not jump off the back of the sofa" isn't gonna cut it. I'm not saying yell. But it's the authority you have in your voice.

Apparently, whatever daycare he goes to allows him (and the other kids) to just go off willy nilly.

I have tried this so many times but once I finally did it right it worked like a charm!

Time outs should only be used when the child is either hurting someone (hitting/biting), ruining something like someone else's property, and other things of that sort. If he is throwing a fit IGNORE it. The first few times may be the hardest but once he learns he won't get what he wants when he has a tantrum he will stop. Ignoring means no talking to him and no eye contact. Turn your body away from him until he stops then when he is finished try to suggest a new activity.

Time outs are 1min per 1 year of age (2yr old= 2min). Explain time outs to the child and when they will be used before you try it. Go over everything. No toys allowed and no talking allowed for that time. Don't give much attention while in time out. If they get up or keep talking explain that you will add one more minute. If it's still not working put in their room but take away toys.

Lastly but most important, be consistent! If you say you will do something or take something away stick to it. Good luck!

Screaming for 45 minutes - if he wants to, let him do it but ignore him while he does. It won't hurt him.
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One thing about time-outs - If they work use them, if they don't work then stop. I see so often that parents continue to use a technique that obviously does not work... and I don't understand why. If it doesn't work, stop and change something, then try again in a "re-born" form - evaluate - improve
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Instead of punish when tantrum is already a fact, try to get him before it happens. One thing that does work is to acknowledge his feelings. I see that you are angry / frustrated...
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Michael
Father of Idea, the good idea

Don't bother with time outs because it is better for the child to determine the end of the punishment rather than the clock. What I mean is parents should consider sending their kids to the same place where they go for time outs (say their bedroom) and tell them that they can come out whenever they want, but only under certain conditions. Those conditions might be 1) apologize to whoever was the victim of the crime that led to the punishment (a younger sibling or a playdate friend) and 2) explain to Mom or Dad what they did wrong. These conditions are useful to reassure yourself your child understands what they are being punished for. Secondly, this approach works quite well on stubborn children whose own refusal to say sorry or adequately explain their own bad behavior will lengthen the punishment, saving mom and dad from doing it themselves. I saw an excellent article on this and other topics at www.therainracer.wordpress.com.

I would recommend the book, "The Happiest Toddler on the Block" Until I read that book, I also felt frustrated and was getting into power struggles. The author gives some very specific techniques to help with reducing the tantrum from even starting. The ideas are a little different from most of them that are out there, but they are working for my 23 months old and 3 year old. We are definately a happier family since we starting using them AND I have successfully stopped several tantrums without ignoring my kids. Best of all, I've stopped them from starting by using the methods when I see them starting to get upset over limits given to them.

Read "1-2-3 Magic" that book worked wonders with my son. Good luck!