Every parent knows that once their child understands the spoken language and has the physical strength and mobility to walk around the house, time for applying some discipline has arrived.
The truth is that the sooner a parent sets out limits and rules to a child's behaviour, the better it is for both parties involved.
On the one hand, a child needs to know exactly what he/she is allowed to do or not, and what are the consequences for misbehaving because it teaches him/her about responsibility.
On the other hand, there are parents who believe that they should not confine their child's freedom of expression by setting out rules and boundaries because he/she has the right to learn from their own mistakes.
Actually, not just effective, but good discipline is based on finding just the right balance between otherwise two unhealthy extremes: either being too authoritative or being too indulgent.
All parents should start the disciplining process by remembering to always be demanding and responsive, while having high expectations of maturity from their child.
The Do's when disciplining children are: · Do respect and understand your child's feelings.
· Do teach your child how to regulate those feelings.
· Do support your child through finding an appropriate solution to a problem.
· Do set clear standards, controls and limits to a child's actions.
· Do monitor the limits you set.
· Do encourage your child's strivings to be independent.
· Do remember to be warm and nurturing when the child is going through a difficult time.
· Do let your child make his/her own decisions.
· Do let your child suffer the consequences of those decisions.
· Do expect mature and age-appropriate behaviour from your child.
· Do punish misbehavior in a measured and consistent manner.
· Do explain your motives for applying punishment.
· Do pay attention to the child's needs and concerns.
· Do tell your child that you have forgiven him/her.
The Don'ts when disciplining children are: · Do not set out absurd or extreme limits and rules that basically offer the child no freedom to explore and experience the world.
· Do not criticize, ridicule or mock your child's failures.
· Do not expect to be respected without being a model of good behaviour first.
· Do not use an arbitrary or violent method of punishing misbehavior.
· Do not treat your child with superiority.
· Do not demand obedience without explaining why.
· Do not tell your child what to do instead of letting him/her choose for him/herself.
· Do not be too permissive with your child.
· Do not go overboard trying to fulfill all your child's demands and wishes.
The truth is that the sooner a parent sets out limits and rules to a child's behaviour, the better it is for both parties involved.
On the one hand, a child needs to know exactly what he/she is allowed to do or not, and what are the consequences for misbehaving because it teaches him/her about responsibility.
On the other hand, there are parents who believe that they should not confine their child's freedom of expression by setting out rules and boundaries because he/she has the right to learn from their own mistakes.
Actually, not just effective, but good discipline is based on finding just the right balance between otherwise two unhealthy extremes: either being too authoritative or being too indulgent.
All parents should start the disciplining process by remembering to always be demanding and responsive, while having high expectations of maturity from their child.
The Do's when disciplining children are: · Do respect and understand your child's feelings.
· Do teach your child how to regulate those feelings.
· Do support your child through finding an appropriate solution to a problem.
· Do set clear standards, controls and limits to a child's actions.
· Do monitor the limits you set.
· Do encourage your child's strivings to be independent.
· Do remember to be warm and nurturing when the child is going through a difficult time.
· Do let your child make his/her own decisions.
· Do let your child suffer the consequences of those decisions.
· Do expect mature and age-appropriate behaviour from your child.
· Do punish misbehavior in a measured and consistent manner.
· Do explain your motives for applying punishment.
· Do pay attention to the child's needs and concerns.
· Do tell your child that you have forgiven him/her.
The Don'ts when disciplining children are: · Do not set out absurd or extreme limits and rules that basically offer the child no freedom to explore and experience the world.
· Do not criticize, ridicule or mock your child's failures.
· Do not expect to be respected without being a model of good behaviour first.
· Do not use an arbitrary or violent method of punishing misbehavior.
· Do not treat your child with superiority.
· Do not demand obedience without explaining why.
· Do not tell your child what to do instead of letting him/her choose for him/herself.
· Do not be too permissive with your child.
· Do not go overboard trying to fulfill all your child's demands and wishes.