Disciplining Children
Although it’s never fun, properly disciplining your child is an important part of parenthood. But as parents, it is our responsibility to raise our children to be the best they can be. We recognize that every set of parents have different ideas on how to properly raise their children; these are not absolutes to follow, merely suggestions for help disciplining kids.
Children are always watching, and learn just as much from what we do as from what we tell them. So make sure you are behaving in ways you would want your child to emulate.
Reinforce positive behavior just as much as you discipline negative behavior. And when you have to discipline your child, use the moment to teach them why you have to discipline them; let them know you are acting out of love and for their best interest.
Address the behavioral issue (or whatever prompts the need for discipline) immediately if possible. By dragging out the time between the action and discipline, you lessen the connection and impact on your child.
Make consequences realistic, and if possible, make the consequences reflect or relate to the negative action (e.g. if your child refuses to behave at the table, don’t let them have dessert; if they won’t clean up their toys, take the toys away for a certain time period).
Follow through. If you let your child know there will be negative consequences to disobedience or negative behavior, but then let them off the hook, they will become more likely to act in the exact same way since they learned there aren’t actual consequences.
If you have any questions, or want more information, please contact either office and we will be happy to help you!