Many parents struggle with the subject of effective discipline techniques for children. Several generations ago, spankings and other physical reactions were a common and acceptable form of child discipline. But as societal standards have changed and we begin to learn more about child psychology, many parents are left wondering what types of discipline is both effective and appropriate.
Different children respond to a variety of disciplinary techniques, and what may have been effective for one child in your care may not work with another. This is due to the varying temperaments, developmental levels and experiences that each individual child has. However, there are some basic rules to follow no matter what disciplinary technique you’re using to ensure that you’re as effective as possible.
1. Don’t give in. Giving in to your child’s demands or excuses will only reinforce that type of behavior in the future. Children often resort to arguments, violence or temper tantrums because they see them work, either with other adults or with you. Show them each time what kind of behavior is ineffective at changing your opinion and eventually that kind of behavior will cease. Of course, if you misunderstood something or the reason for the misbehavior becomes justified, you should apoligize and encourage your child to be more forthcoming in the future.
2. Be consistant. Clear limits on behavior should be set as early as possible and those limits should be consistantly enforced across caregivers. Children are prone to testing limits, especially when it comes to pushing behaviors with an unwitting caregiving (like a teacher or babysitter), so make sure that anyone who cares about your children knows about the basic expected behaviors. If your babysitters lets the kids stay up past their bedtime, you better believe you’ll hear arguments about how mean you are when you won’t allow it, or how it’s so unfair. Keep up the consistancy when it comes to discipline. Once you find out a method that works fo ryour individual child, try to make sure that you always use that punishment. That helps children lean exactly what is expected of them, because they know what the consequences will be ahead of time.