How to Discipline A Stubborn Child

The key to disciplining a stubborn child -- or any child -- is consistency. Parents must set rules and be consistent in enforcing them and doling out punishment for ignoring the rules. Otherwise, the child will ignore the rules and create more headaches for the parent.

Instructions

1. Communicate to the child the rules and expectations in your household. Clearly explain the penalties for misbehaving, whether it's a minor infraction, such as refusing to eat her vegetables at dinner, or something major, such as drawing his bedroom wall with crayons. Explain to the child why the behavior is unacceptable.

2. Place the child in a timeout for misbehaving. Do not allow talking, playing with toys or jumping around during the timeout. The child must sit quietly until the timeout is over. If the child refuses, look at your watch and tell the child that however long he waits to get into timeout, that much time will be added to the punishment. Soon, the child will learn to take the punishment when it is given rather than sit for an excessively long time.

3. Be assertive without yelling or losing your temper. A stubborn child is likely to think it's funny to see mommy screaming. Disciplining the child will become a struggle if you tend to lose your cool often. Calmly, but firmly, state a punishment if the child continues to ignore one of your rules.

4. Show children -- especially older children -- the consequences of ignoring the rules. For example, a child who hasn't done his homework before playing should not be allowed to stay up late to finish it. Instead, the parent should enforce the usual bed time; the child can go to school the next day without her completed homework. The child may learn from the resulting poor grade not to break the rules in the future.

References

• Kids Health: Disciplining Your Child