What are some ways to dicipline a pre-schooler. Current situation is 4 year old soon to be 5 doesn't want to listen to me or babysitter but will listen to his father . He is not my child so he does have a mother and he stays with her throughout the week. I've tried talking to him and approaching him calmly I've done time out I take a away tv toys. And everytime I do those things all he does is cry. His dad will talk to him and everything seems good after that then as soon as his dad's not around its like world war 3.