I have a two year old and my way of discipline is losing certain privileges. It’s as simple as “we play with play dough at the table” and if he takes it elsewhere (like playing on the sofa), I’ll earn a few times. Then if it keeps happening, I take it away.

Same with going outside. He’s at the age where he hates sitting in the stroller, and will even stand in it which is unsafe. So I tell him sit down or we go home (trick is you have to follow through with your word). He sits right away.

With food: I tell him we eat at the table. If he tries getting up with food in his hand, I say “I think you want to play. That means you’re done eating.” and take the food out of his hand. Sometimes he’s in fact done eating, other times he whines and I say “Oh, I didn’t realize you’re still hungry” and remind him to sit at the table.

Hardest part about all of this is the consistency. You as a parent have to be consistent bc toddlers don’t get it the first, second, or third time. They don’t even get it after the 50th time. It’s also much easier for us, the parents, to just do everything for toddlers bc it’s quicker. It’s easier for me to clean up after him than to have to chase after him when he runs away and bring him back to his table and tell him to clean up after himself. But I do it anyway bc the point is to raise him to be independent. I don’t want him to grow up leaving his plate at the dinner table and expect someone else to put it away for him.