How to discipline a child with positive reinforcement.

It's difficult to discipline children, especially children that are very strong willed. Using the "high five" method had gotten our family on the right track together.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Patience
• Big Smiles
• Persistence

1. Set aside time to talk with family and friends about your new method of discipline. As many people in your child's life that are on the same page the better. Get in contact and lay out the basics of the method.

2. If you ask your child to do something give them a certain amount of time to do what you've asked. (One method you can use is the 1,2,3 count "I am not going to ask again - 1...2...3...). Give the child a fair amount of time to do what you have asked him/her.

3. If the child does listens or does what he/she has been told pretend as if they have just saved the world from complete annihilation. And proceed to make the "high five" the biggest deal ever. They will associate the high five as the ultimate reward.

4. If the child does not listen to you, use a sad tone of voice as if you feel bad for him/her. Explain, "Oh ____, that does not get you a high five. Maybe next time you can listen and you'll get the high five."

Tips & Warnings

• It's important to emphasize how awesome it is to receive the high five and be sure to give them an opportunity within a few minutes of a failed experience to easily obtain the high five reward.
• As with all child discipline techniques consistency is always the most important factor in the success and fail rates.

[csteve99]

on 3/13/2009 Great article 5*

[mamaseversike]

on 1/18/2009 She is a wonderful mom! Patience, parents! Remember, "this too will pass!"

[amodkumar]

on 8/21/2008 i have analysed that there will be many occassion when your child will remind you of your wrongdoing or some contradicting behaviours of your which you preach him/her.so we have to be good in front of them.
They somehow learn most of the things from their environment so just be good and the things will be good.

Dont shift the responsibility by sending the kids to Boarding school.

[rumblebug]

on 8/21/2008 Yvonnemir - I think the most important way you can teach a child not to hit is to practice what you preach. I always try to gauge what my child's next move is. If I know that certain things I say or do will prompt her to want to strike me or anyone else I try to avoid getting to that point. I always try to anticipate what she will do next. Be a step ahead of him/her, wrap your arms around him/her, use lots of love.

At one year old, I remember my child was young enough that she didn't fully understand what it was she was doing. So help them to know that hitting = owies or hurting. They can understand facial responses probably better than words. Use exagerated facial expressions.
I am by no means by no means a professional but I am the mother of a very stubborn and amazingly active little girl. I only speak from experience but I have yet to resort to spanking.

[yvonnemir]

on 8/21/2008 my one year old likes to hit everyone and thinks its ok how do I dicpline him without spanking?