How to Discipline a Child That Does Not Listen

Anybody who works with children --- parents, caretakers, teachers --- will need to learn how to help children listen. Adults generally have more experience than children, and therefore more wisdom, but children are not always ready to acknowledge this. This reluctance must be overcome with careful discipline.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lots of patience!

What To Not Do

1. Never succumb to anger or even impatience! This brings you down to the child's level and she will quickly lose any respect she had for you.

2. Never give in simply for the sake of peace. This shows the child that you are easily manipulated and he will take advantage of that at every possible opportunity.

3. Do not discipline a child in public, if it is at all possible. This hurts the child's pride and she is more likely to be rebellious.

What To Do

4. Keep your word! If you tell a child that he will not get candy because he did not listen, then do not give him candy, no matter how much he promises to "be good next time." Conversely, if you promise a reward for good behavior, make sure you keep your promise! Broken trust is one of the hardest things to repair for a child.

5. Be consistent! Discipline the child at every instance of willfulness. If you discipline only half the time, the child will constantly try you, looking for a chance to get away with bad behavior.

6. Be quick to reward good behavior! Praise every instance where the child listens readily --- and praise liberally!

7. Find something that is important to the child: this can be an item such as sweet foods, or an immaterial thing like TV time. Discipline by restricting this thing and reward by giving extra. Never discipline by removing affection! Be careful when rewarding with sweets --- you don't want to hurt the child's health.

Tips & Warnings

• Here is a general rule of thumb: ten praises to every one correction. This can be very difficult, but it forces you to look for the good qualities of the child. This affects your attitude as well as his.
• Again, never, ever give in to anger. Correcting or disciplining a child in anger can ruin your relationship and make any further learning nearly impossible.