My 3 year old nephew is naughty. Off course, he is a boy, and he’s just behaving like one. Much to the exasperation of his parents and grandparents. As a result, he is intimately acquainted with the “naughty corner”.

So much so, that being sent to the “naughty corner” no longer fazes him. Don’t get me wrong…he hates the place, being ignored and not allowed to play with his toys. He invariably tries to make the customary get-away but his parents are way faster than him.

For someone so young, he already has a reputation in the family as taking after my Dad, his Grandpa. My Dad has a reputation in the family as having being a terror when he was a kid. Even now, 60 years later, his  antics are still recounted at family gatherings. Grandpa and grandson have a great rapport, not surprising.

I happened to chat with a collegue today whose son is 2 years old. I asked her if he had a “naughty corner”. She said that he has a “get-good corner”. I love the positive spin on this. If one sends a toddler to the “naughty corner” he is boxed into being naughty, and he eventually stops taking it seriously and carries on being naughty. But if one sends a toddler to the “get-good corner”, it gives him or her something to aspire to and has more of a learning connotation.

I know someone who was hoping that his wife was pregnant with a girl, because he says that girls are easy. I think I agree with him. Well, guess what…he’s having a boy. He has my sympathies. He should consider implementing the “get-good corner”.

I love my nephew, and quite happy to be the cool aunt. Next time I babysit him, I’m going to try the “get-good corner” concept. I want to remain the cool aunt.