The Best Discipline Advice for an Angry Child
Disciplining children is never easy, and if you have a perpetually angry child, it can be an even bigger hassle. You need a quick way to get your child's temper under control before you both really lose it. The good news is that just because your child is angry at times doesn't mean you're a bad parent. Even the most well-adjusted kids sometimes throw temper tantrums and have similar outbursts. By making a few tweaks in your discipline routine, these unpleasant scenarios will be few and far between.
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Stay Calm
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You may have heard it before, but it bears repeating: stay calm when disciplining your angry child. It does no good to have both your blood pressures rising at the same time, and as the adult, you need to be able to think clearly. Responding to your child on an emotional level will not allow you to do this. Even if you child is screaming, talk to him in a neutral tone. The benefits of this include the fact that you are modeling appropriate behavior for your child, and he must stop yelling if he wishes to hear you.
Be Consistent
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No matter how aggravating your angry child is, be consistent in your discipline. You may forget punishments that you said you would inflict, or find them too time-consuming to carry out. Your child is sure to notice this -- as well as use your behavior against you. If you teach your child that her angry behavior goes unpunished -- even sometimes -- you are more likely to get a repeat performance.
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Don't Give In
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Although tempting to give into your child's demands in order to end his tantrums, this is another mistake that will haunt you. Never reinforce bad behavior -- doing so even once sends the child the message that the behavior is working well enough to be continued.
Look Inward
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Although it may not seem like obvious discipline advice, sometimes the problem is not the child: it's the parent. All the tips in the world aren't going to help if the child's caretakers are perpetually stressed out, frustrated, and have the tendency to yell. In cases such as these, the child may not really be angry -- she is just mimicking behavior demonstrated by adults. If you see any of these behaviors in yourself (or in other caretakers for your child, such as nannies), be sure to address them before attempting further methods of discipline.
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References
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