When Do You Stop Giving Warnings?

If you have a rule and the child knows the rule, then no warning is necessary. Why do you think he still chases the cat? Because nothing bad happens to him when he does. A warning is not a consequence, it's just license to keep on doing whatever he's doing some more. I think you're on the right track - he chases the cat, he is punished immediately. Maybe next time he'll think twice before he engages in this behavior. Just be consistent and he will get with the program very quickly!

Basically just say "Hey, you KNOW the rule about this"... give him that one chance to stop, then punish if he doesnt mind. Training kids means LOTS of repitition and patience.

Warnings are no longer necessary or effective when the child has been warned about the same thing over and over again.
"Chase the cat, I take you by the hand, put you in your room, close the door. You can cry, have a meltdown, whatever your choose to do. No more warnings, no more talking. It stops or you will be in your room until you stop chasing the cat."
Few words. No long drawn out talks or discussions.
Cause and effect.
To some kids, a warning just means they can do what they do until you do something about it.
If warnings don't work, nix them.

If the children have had a warning or a teaching about a particular behavior, they are on the hook for the discipline when they disobey. Unless you want to be constantly begging your son to obey you, every day about every thing, then, start acting on the discipline. Right away. The first time. Once he learns that you actually are serious about the rules, he will start obeying you. If you never really are serious about them, why should he obey you? It's more fun for him to do what he wants than what you direct him to do. Please, stop begging your son to obey. You have given him the standards, now start enforcing them. You might want to let him know that a new sherrif is in town, and first time obedience is required. If he doesn't obey the first time, he will be disciplined. Kids are pretty smart. Oh, and we also don't do time-outs or room restrictions. We discipline right away, not letting them sit and stew about discipline. We discipline, forgive, pray, and move on. They are done with whatever within a couple of minutes and our relationship is restored and built up. It's so much better for kids and parents that way. We also have never had rebellious or stewing teens. We are all very close.

In my opinion he still deserves a gentle reminder ... my son and I go over "life rules" only a few at a time randomly during the day, not just when the come up.

I recently addressed this issue with one of my daycare families. I am TIRED of addressing the same behavioral issue with their child over & over again. I told both parents that from now on....some of my rules are "absolutes" & noncompliance would be immediately punished.

By the end of that week, it was no longer an issue with the child. Their DD KNEW I meant business. Glory be..... Oh, & she is 2 1/2 & fully understands. Your child is 5- go for it!

Caterine C is right on the money.
He does these things because he can. He knows if mom says ONE he has until you blow up way after you said two, or whatever happens. Kids know how to read us.
YOu are doing the right thing.

Post house rules that everyone in the house must follow. There should be consequences noted at the bottom of the list, whether it's a time out or a loss of a privilege.

On the off chance that someone is just having a bad day, everyone should have one chance for a do-over and get one warning to improve the behavior or else have the pre-set consequence. I don't believe that there's an age limit for this when it comes to minor children. It's all about giving chances and showing that you trust your kids to try to get their act together.

For that sort of rule breaking, you do not need to give a warning. He's gotten 5,000 of them already--every time he has already done this, plus the next time he continued it and you put him in his room, for the past probably what--4 years?

He has learned that he can do it once for free, and the next time is when you give him a consequence. So just stop with the warning and just put him in his room (or whatever your consequence post-warning would have been). He will re-learn that he doesn't get the "free" one, and that he can't do it at all. It will take him by surprise the very first time you give immediate consequences with no warning, and that will make a big impression. I bet he'll remember the rules much better afterwards, too. :)

I think 5 is old enough to not need warnings any longer, especially in a case where he has been told not to/punished in the past. If he gets a warning everytime you're just teaching him that he's allowed to do it until you tell him not to, do you know what I mean? My 5 and 6 year old do not get warnings any longer unless it's a new situation that we've not encountered before. In that case we tell them that their behavoir is unacceptable and if done again they will be punished. I do still remind my 3 year old how to behave, but that's because she is still learning.

your son is old enough to understand rules. set up a chart that has 2 colums. the first colum is the rule the second is the consequence. ex:

Rules
#1 no chasing cat
#2 no hitting
# 3 food stays at the table

consequence
#1 time out
do it again and the consequence gets bigger
#2 no tv
#3 no wii etc..... for stuff like the cat I would go right to whatever hurts the most. in our house it would be the video game. at school my sons teacher had a stop light on each desk. it had red / yellow and green everyone starts on green a misbehavior goes to yellow again and it goes to red. you get past that you go to the principals office. they hated that my son only went once. i asked if he yelled. he said no but mom he looks at you so sad that you had to be there.

Always 1. Sometimes more if I'm being too nice. Even thought at 5 he should know better, he is still a kid and gets wrapped up in the fun of chasing he cat. Nothing in the punishment department is fun for parents...but I'd still give him one warning and if he continues, THEN take him to his room or whatever punishment you see fit. He's still a little guy though - so I'd always give a gentle reminder.

Have you had him tested for ADD--ADHD or Autisim. He may have issues with impluse control. He knows he shouldn't do it but does anyway.

As far as warnings and conquences one reminder and then conquence.

My granddaughter is Austistic and when I take her to places we talk. What do you have to do today? (behave) And what happens if you don't behave? (I have to go home) ect If she acts up I say Do you want to go home? (No) Well then behave. She knows what will happen and she is making the decision to stay or go home.

I always give one warning, because sometimes a kid gets caught up in the moment, acts impulsively, etc. but that's it!

I don't usually read a lot of 'how to raise/discipline my children' books, but this one was recommended by my brother (he's a pediatrition) and it's been really good. Very simple. This is the amazon link (so you can take a look inside the book to see for yourself...) I think it completely encapsulates what you are trying to fix.
http://www.amazon.com/1-2-3-Magic-Effective-Discipline-Ch...

I think you already answered your own question. He knows what's right and does the opposite anyway. Sounds like a strong willed child who is determined to do what he wants regardless of consequences. My advice would be no more warnings. Get firm now, be sure he knows who is in charge; that way as he gets older and the issues get larger, you'll already have parameters established. Good luck!

1 warning, then i start counting