Disclosure: In any review for a product or service, products or compensation may have been provided to me to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” and "Terms of Use" tabs for more information.
Children need discipline in their formative years, and those who are disciplined properly will grow into fine young adults in the coming years. Those who are not met with the right kind of discipline, however, are more likely to cultivate bad habits and poor behavior that will follow them throughout their lives. Give your children the best head start they can get by recognizing the most common mistakes parents make when disciplining children, and avoid such mistakes yourself.
- Losing Your Temper
When you lose your temper with children, you lose control of the situation. If you’re not in control, then you can’t hope to discipline a child effectively. Children are extremely receptive to changes in mood. If you suddenly lose your cool, the level of energy in your interactions will escalate to critical levels. It is always important to stay calm and collected when dealing with children, and if you can avoid losing your temper you will dodge the most common disciplinary mistake made by parents everywhere. - Failing to Be Consistent
Rules and disciplinary actions need to be consistent over time in order to be effective. If the rules are constantly changing, the result will be confusion and frustration. Children require structure in their lives in order to grow up in healthy and happy dispositions, and it is up to the parents to provide that structure. Inconsistency leads to arguments. This is perfectly understandable from a child’s point of view–if the rules are never the same, how are they to know how to behave? - Punishing Excessively
Be sure not to confuse discipline with punishment. The whole point of discipline is to give children guidelines for behavior that they will follow, thereby eliminating the need for punishment. Set boundaries for your children and help them live up to your expectations. If you’ve disciplined your children properly, they’ll stay on their best behavior as much as can be expected, and they’ll rarely need to be punished. Furthermore, punishment is a very negative experience, which leads to further negativity. Don’t be afraid to implement consequences for bad behavior, but remember that this is not the goal of discipline. - Ignoring Your Own Rules
“Practice what you preach,” is one of the most popular quotes in the realm of discipline for children. You cannot expect children to do as you say while ignoring what you do. You are your child’s primary role model in the early years, and your actions set an example of good behavior. An important part of disciplining your children is exercising discipline yourself. Set a positive example for your children to follow, and avoid this common disciplinary mistake.
If yu look up the word “dicipline” in the dictionary it means, “to teach”.All 4 of your points hoepfully fall under “to teach” for parents.
Thanks for sharing this important remider.
Great for any adult that regularly deals with children. I would also add:
1) Dont take it or make it personal – even if the child tries to make it that way.
2) Always remember, that you are the adult – you are wiser, more experienced, and have the best intentions. Child may not acknowledge it, but they know it.
3) The role of discipline is to curb behavior and to teach children that actions have consequences. Focus less on punishment and more on “consequences.” Children have control over their lives – if they choose the behavior, they choose the consequence.
Please promote this, especially number 4.
I just love parents who stand with a smoke in their mouths while telling their kids not to smoke…
Great message.