I did the 123 thing with DS1 - he's 16 now and appears to be well grounded with no lasting ill-effects from my parenting!! I would generally only have to get to "2" - I think it was the quiet tone that got his attention.

Also, someone mentioned about giving "tasks" for little hands. Nic's principal from kinder (all those years ago) used to give the little ones things to do rather than a punishment if they were misbehaving or consistently disrupting the class. She would ask them to help her by stacking some books, sorting out pencils, tidying up something..... little tasks designed to distract and refocus and to also teach them about consequences for their actions. Can I just add too that Nic used to come home and tell me that he helped Sr Edith today, because he wanted to - I used to have to hide my grin because I knew he'd been a little bit naughty!!