Yes. Make a rule for yourself that you can't say the word "no" at all. That way, you'll be forced to come up with more creative solutions. Instead of telling him what NOT to do, you can emphasize what he SHOULD do. For example, if he is touching a fragile vase, you can gently take him by the hand, saying, "Sweetheart, let's play over here with the toys." Once you arrive at the toys, lavish on the praise: "Good for you! This is where we can play and touch everything safely!" Even if he doesn't understand your words, he'll get your meaning and your excitement and what he is doing right (instead of your displeasure at what he is doing wrong). Another trick is to acknowledge his curiosity and interest in the environment. If he is touching that vase, for example, instead of screaming "NO," you can quietly say, "It's a pretty vase, isn't it? Let's go over here and play with your toys now." And then follow up with lots of attention for playing in the right place with the right things. Give more attention to correct behavior than to wrong behavior. The less interest you show in your son's inappropriate behavior, the less often he'll engage in it. Also keep in mind that distraction works well with toddlers, so use it to your advantage. And finally, see if you can "child proof" your house as much as possible - remove temptation so that you don't have to do so much redirection.  Sarah Chana