DD is 15 months old and has been starting to test the boundaries since she was about 13.5 months. I don't really know what the most effective way to discipline at this age is. I wanted to find out what you have done for a child this age and also what is a good age to start "time out"?
Probably at this age it's better to simply remove the thing that's the problem or physically move the child away from the area/thing that's the problem. That may mean putting them down a couple of meters away and doesn't really count as a time out. First give a verbal direction (keep it simple - one or two words - and repeat a few times) then if they don't comply, move them. At this age distraction/redirection works better than anything else anyway. We've only recently started doing "proper" time outs occasionally (a minute max by herself in the hallway) and only after repeated incidents/out of control behaviour which earlier interventions have not fixed. My DD is nearly 21 mths old. If you are having repeated problems with particular things (eg child keeps playing with something you don't want them to) it's actually easier to change the environment (move the thing, put a lock on the cupboard, give the child something they are allowed to play with instead, etc) than to repeatedly enforce it, kwim? Dr Harry does the same thing with pets on the telly LOL.
HTH
ETA - I meant to add - save the Time Outs as your last resort measure. If you use it up on minor things, it won't work if/when the challenging behaviour escalates (as sometimes it does). Always make sure you get down to your child's level, use your "important voice" and make eye contact when given them direction. Use direct words like "Get in the car please" instead of indirect words like "Can you get in the car please". Often this will fix the problem without any other measures.
Em is only just starting to sit in the corner when she is in trouble. I think around 2 is the time that they start to get what it means. Just keep moving her away from the things she is pushing the boundaries with, and if the cats are the ones who's boundaries she is pushing they will let her know.
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What age to start "time out"
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