INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Chose a spot that is quiet but not completely isolated. For instance, use a chair or a bench that is out of the way, or put a pillow on the ground in the corner of the room. The goal is not to put the 2 year old out of sight, but rather to give them a place to rest and regroup. Make sure the time out area is free from distractions and dangers. Most 2 year olds have abandonment issues, so don't close them off in their room unless it's the only available safe space. Whenever possible, remain within view of them. Use simple words and refer to the time out space as a place where your child can go to think about their actions when they do something wrong. When it's time to use the time out space, tell them they need a break or some quiet time. For instance, when identifying the time out space: "This chair is for time outs, and you'll sit here quietly when you need to think about something you've done wrong." Or, when it's time to go there: "Jim, it's time for you to take a time out. You refused to put your toys away and you need to think about why you did that." Think of it this way: the time out space isn't supposed to be a jail, it's meant to be a learning space. Many experts recommend limiting time outs to one minute per year of ageso, 2 minutes for a 2 year old. Your goal is to encourage good behavior, not to make the small child feel like they are bad. Also, 1 to 2 minutes can seem like an eternity to a 2 year old! You don't need to announce to them that the time out is for 2 minutes, or show them a timer. In fact, if the child has calmed down and seems ready to follow the rules, feel free to end the time out before the 2 minutes is up. Keeping a 2 year old in time out for longer than 2 minutes is unlikely to make them "get the message" any more clearly. Instead, it just makes it more likely that they'll refuse to stay put and require additional discipline. You want the 2 year old to start identifying which actions get them in trouble and which actions bring them positive attention. When they're finished, say something like "Thanks for staying in time out quietly. Can you tell me why you had to go there?" If they don't want to tell you why they had to go to time out, go ahead and explain the reason to them once again. Look for any little things you can praise after the time out: "Thank you for putting your puzzle away, Annabelle." Be sure to follow the child's time out with a discussion of why it was necessary for you to give them a time out. Explain the rule to them and talk about why it exists. Then, have the child repeat the rule back to you to ensure that they understand. For example, you could say something like, "I had to give you a time out because you broke the rule about not hitting when you slapped your brother. It hurts when you hit people, so it is not okay to do that. So what is the rule again?"

SUMMARY: Set up a specific place for time outs. Explain the time out space. Put a 2 year old in time out for no more than 2 minutes. Praise them for staying in time out, and for good behavior after. Follow up the time out with a discussion of the rules.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: There are a few different reasons why an orchid might not be blooming. The most common reason is that it doesn't have the right light level, so make sure that you check that first. You can look at the color of the leaves. Leaves should be medium-green. If they are a dark, lush green,the plant is likely not getting enough light. If that isn't it, there are a few more things to consider. The orchid might simply be too young. Plants have to be mature enough to bloom and then only during their natural cycle. Your orchid might be overpotted. For best results with orchids, you'll need to make sure that they are tight in their pots. Pots that are too big for the root mass put the orchid in danger of not growing or blooming. Another problem could be that you're using the wrong fertilizer. There could be too much nitrogen, which suppresses blooming. You want a nitrogen phosphorus potassium (or NPK) value of 10:10:10 in your fertilizer. If you're dealing with limp leaves you will want to unpot the orchid and check the root system. If the roots are mushy then a significant root loss has occurred and there are several likely culprits. Overwatering can do this. You can safely water an orchid about once a week, depending on the type and only as long as they are healthy and potted properly. Check the mix to see if it is drying out properly before you re-water. The pot is too large. This can also cause problems with your orchid's roots, because they are expending too much energy trying to maintain their root system rather than caring for leaves and new flowers. Potting mix has degraded. Potting mixes are only good for a certain amount of time before they need to be replaced. Make sure yours hasn't gone past its deadline. While pests are less likely in an indoors orchid, you can still get them in potting mixes and just out of nowhere. Make sure you know how to deal with these nuisances so you can keep your orchid alive and healthy. Aphids target bloom spikes and buds so if you see holes in these areas you might have aphids. Fortunately most insecticides will control these little nuisances. Snails and slugs can get into the potting mixes, so make sure you check the mixes that you're putting your orchid in. They tend to chew on the roots, or on leaves and stems. Again, insecticides can usually take care of this problem, or getting a new potting mix. If your young leaves are getting discolored, and white masses are appearing on your orchid, then you probably have mealybugs. Use insecticides or remedies that contain an oil of some sort because this coats and suffocates the bug. It's also a good idea to repot the plant once you've eradicated the menace. For a home-made insecticide you should mix 9/10 quart of warm water, 1/10 quart of rubbing alcohol, 1 tsp of lightweight oil (Neem Oil is an excellent choice), a few drops of gentle dishwashing detergent. Mix these in a spray bottle and shake vigorously (make sure the cap is on). Spray the orchids.

SUMMARY:
Deal with an orchid that won't bloom. Care for an orchid with limp leaves. Deal with pests.