How to Discipline a Young Child Successfully

There comes a time in every parents life when they have to start disciplining their children. Here are a few steps and tips to help make it more successful

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• patience

1. Choose your battles- It is definitely important to decide what is worth getting upset over. If the child will harm them self or others than that definitely is an important one but if it is something like your child wants to pick out what they would like to wear for the day, as long as they are dressed for the weather it would not be a battle worth fighting

2. Get down to their level- It is very important to get down and face to face with your child. This allows for both of you to focus on each other and you do not seem to be too over powering to them

3. Label the behavior Not the child- Do not say "Sally you are a bad girl" but instead say things like "Sally when you hit Billy it hurts him and we do not want to hurt Billy"

4. Positive Reinforcement and Praise- Using positive reinforcement gives children a positive goal to work towards instead of concentrating on negative consequences and trying to avoid those. They get attention from doing the right things instead of the negative. Praising the good behavior and not just focusing on the bad also improves the child's self esteem and helps them to want to do positive things instead. It also makes for a healthier relationship with mom and dad

5. Take a parent "timeout"- If you find your self really frustrated and on the verge of getting angry take a timeout for yourself so that you can deal with the issue with the right mind

6. Have realistic expectations- Know that a 2 year old can not sit in timeout for 15 minutes (they do not understand the concept of time) I use for how old they are they get a minute for that number; so a 2 year old would be in timeout for 2 minutes

7. After the action and consequence has been dealt with give your child a hug and let them know you love them

8. Lastly and one of the most important is consistency, consistency, consistency- It is very important to remain consistent in disciplining your child so as they know what to expect when they do certain actions, this will ensure that you and your child are on the same page

Tips & Warnings

• Be calm
• Get down to their level
• Have realistic expectations
• Use positive reinforcement and praise
• Be consistent, consistent, consistent
• This tip I found to be useful with my three young kids is if we are going somewhere, before we leave the house I let them know where we are going, what we are doing and what I expect from them. Then I say it again in the car on the way their and one last time when we arrive. This gives them three times to absorb the information and for us all to be on the same page
• Do not talk to your child while you are angry, take a timeout or a deep breath and deal with the issue while you are calmer

[lighthouse1958]

on 7/15/2009 very nice. 5* Teresa

[SimplyCuttings]

on 7/4/2009 Great stuff. 5 stars.

[jull14]

on 6/29/2009 A wonderful article to help many of us, the steps are very easy to follow, thanks for your help.

[tnpos]

on 6/25/2009 I really like the parent time out concept. Kids will be kids though. 5 and a recom

[greenwahm]

on 6/24/2009 Thanks for the advice 5*'s