Discipline and Your Child

Discipline and Your Child
Battles of Will, Giving in to Your Child and Effective Discipline Strategies
© Connie Newbauer
Avoid the parenting traps of discipline. - Photo Credit: comstock.com
Do you find yourself in a battle of wills with your child? Do you wait too long to punish? Overdo punishments or use punishments as pay backs? We've got the book for you.

Parent Trap III:

Okay, Okay, Have it Your Way – I Give Up! – Giving Into a Kid Who is More Stubborn Than You

If you choose to get into a battle of wills with your children, make sure of two things: first, that the issue is worth battling about and, second, that you are prepared to stand your ground, even if it takes all day.”

Teach the children the difference between requirements and requests. Some things are not negotiable – such as going to school or running into the street, etc. Some things can be negotiable – such as wearing stripes with plaids, eating their peas, etc.

If it is a requirement, don’t treat it like a request. Never ask a child, “Do you want to go to school?” Instead say, “It is time to go to school, which do you want to wear, your blue shirt or your red shirt?”

When you stand your ground, you bank credibility in your child’s eyes. Credibility that will put you in good stead now – and become even more valuable as your child grows into tweens and teens.

Don’t try to negotiate with a child in the middle of a tantrum. Negotiation can only take place when a child is reasonable. A screaming, argumentative child who is demanding ice cream on the spot, is not reasonable. When your child calms down, negotiate: “You can have some ice cream after you have three bites of everything at dinner.”

Read the entire article at Suite101.com!