One parent decided to try out a Love and Logic® technique on her 5-year-old son. When limits were set, he would often scream and yell within earshot of everyone else. On this particular morning, he was angry about the breakfast served that morning. He ran out of the room, but still yelling and screaming within earshot of the rest of the family.
This mom went in calmly and said, "You're hurting our ears. You can scream in your room or you may calm down and join us."
This little boy continued to scream without moving a muscle.
The mom then gave this choice, "Since you're choosing to scream, you can go to your room by yourself or I can help you. If I help you to your room, then you will be resting in there this morning while the rest of the family goes to church with Dad. Your choice."
This little guy was even more furious with this choice, got up and ran to his room (continuing to scream and yell, of course)! A few minutes later, the mom found him in his room sitting calmly on the bed. He asked if he could join the family for breakfast. The mom hugged him and of course consented.
The part that surprised this mom the most was not that he calmed himself down so quickly and rejoined the family in a kind way, but that while he sat and ate his breakfast he looked at his mom and said, "I love you, Mommy."
This was a result she had not encountered before-- hearing "I love you" after correcting her child.
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