Laughter at Discipline

Question:

My husband and I bought your book “Positive Discipline A to Z” about two years ago and we have referred to it from time to time. It has helped here and there. However, there seems to be one thing I can’t find in the book. Our two younger children laugh when we try to discipline them. Time-outs don’t mean anything to them. They just laugh. Likewise when we try to put them to bed — every time they come out of the room and we put them back to bed, they laugh. I remember somewhere in the book where it says to firmly but gently take them back to bed, despite any crying or wailing. But our kids don’t do that. They just think it is a game and don’t want to stop playing. Even when we resort to “gentle” spanking, they laugh.

We have a bedtime routine, and try to do what your book says regarding bedtime. It doesn’t seem to work with these two.

These two children are ages 3 1/2 and 2.

Any feedback will be helpful!