How to Discipline a Toddler Based on the Bible
The toddler years can be a lot of fun and a lot of frustration. Children at this age are learning so much--positive and negative behaviors. Toddlers need discipline, but how should a parent approach this important concept? The Bible offers valuable parenting advice that you can use to begin disciplining your toddler.
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Instructions
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Be firm. Proverbs 23:13 and 14 read, "Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death." Some interpret this to be a literal reference to corporal punishment. Some think it's speaking figuratively about strict discipline in general. Either way, parenting often requires you to take a firm stance. Setting solid boundaries as early as the toddler years paves the road for better discipline in years to follow. Waiting to get tough until a child is older may be too late. Using firm discipline when necessary shows that you love your child and want to protect him from harm. With toddlers, firmness should take more of an instructional form rather than a punishment. They are just forming their understanding of what is acceptable. Be patient, but be consistent in teaching what is allowed and what is not.
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Be loving. Ephesians 6:4 says, "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Toddlers try the patience of their parents, as do all children at some time or another. However, parents are instructed not to "exasperate" their children. Even in firm discipline parents must realize their children's limits. Young children are just learning; you should be realistic about what behaviors are appropriate at various ages. Talk to your pediatrician and other parents whose skills you value. Especially if this is your first child, it is very helpful to find out what you should expect him or her to be able to do based on his or her stage of development. Also, try to discipline when you are calm. Anger and frustration can cause parents to act in unloving ways; get a handle on yourself before you discipline your child.
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Instruct your child. Discipline doesn't have to have a negative connotation. It also includes productive education. The Bible states in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Toddlers have a vast capacity for learning. Begin talking to them about what is important. Make learning a part of every day activities. Use planned and spontaneous opportunities to teach them about God's commands. You also can use these types of opportunities to begin educating them in relation to academics--letters, numbers and the world around them.
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Train your child in a way that suits his or her unique personality. "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it," is advice offered from Proverbs 22:6. Some Biblical scholars interpret the first part of this verse as a reference to a child's nature. You probably know your child better than anyone. You can see personality traits emerging in the first few years of life. Use this knowledge to build your child up in the areas that are natural strengths for him or her. Knowing what you're good at and how you can be useful are key concepts for any productive human being. A child who knows early on that he is loved and who can see his personal worth will be less likely to have discipline issues as he grows.
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