Child discipline methods are just as vital and important to raising a child as love. Children who are disciplined may learn more positive behavior than those who are not disciplined. Love is all the child needs, but discipline can help them develop in a positive way during their childhood.
In this article, we’ll focus on the seven most solid methods you can use to discipline your child. While these methods are primarily based in traditional values, they will work regardless of the beliefs you have, and should be applicable to most parents.
At the end of the day, it’s your choice as a parent to determine what discipline method is best for your child. The key is to ensure that the method you choose has a positive effect on your child’s future. That’s why I’ve put together these tips.
These simple seven tips can help you tackle any discipline issue without having to pull your hair out.
Child Discipline Methods: 7 Solid Rules for Parents
Here are my seven rules for parents to follow when it comes to disciplining children.
1 – No Screaming
Screaming at a child will only make them feel threatened. And being threatened makes children angry. Instead of using screaming, respond to the child with a firm, loud voice. If you notice your voice becoming louder to get your meaning across, take a deep breath and lower the tone in your voice. If you are in public, move away to talk to your child.
2- Listen to your Child
When your child tells you they didn’t do it, listen instead of assuming they’re lying and automatically punish them. This can be a good opportunity to teach your children the importance of communication and solving problems without yelling. For example, instead of punishing your child for lying about taking a cookie, ask them why they lied about taking a cookie. Then you can sit down and talk about what’s appropriate and inappropriate ways to communicate. These types of talks are a great way to build a closer relationship with your children.
3 – Treat your child with respect
If you have a child that is always testing your limits, it is likely that they were not taught to respect other adults. When you respect your child, they will respect you. When you show respect, it allows your children to talk with you more openly, instead of fearing you. Treat them with love, but also be firm and decisive. Respect is a two-way street, but you should always remember that you are the parent, and your children should show you respect at all times.
4 – Use consequences
When you use consequences, you get children to understand that actions have consequences. While some people believe in using punishment all the time, the best way to teach a child the consequences of their actions is through the use of natural consequences. Let the child feel the consequence of their actions and release them so they can learn. It’s also important to teach your children how to make better decisions, rather than punishing them when they mess up.
5 – Keep it consistent
It doesn’t matter if you’re disciplining your child when they’re angry, sad, or happy. At the end of the day, you need to be consistent. You should show them how you expect them to behave, and then you’ll need to be firm when they don’t follow your expectations. If you’re inconsistent, your children will not know how to behave around you. They’ll start to believe that you won’t follow through when you tell them no, or that you change your mind and don’t really mean what you say.
6 – Make sure they understand
When you discipline your children, you need to make sure they understand why you’re disciplining them. You can sit your child down and explain to them why what they did was wrong. Then you can ask them if they understand, and why you would be upset with their behavior. Some children need to hear the words coming out of your mouth, and then they can learn from their mistakes.
7 – Give them a sense of control
It’s important for your children to feel like they have some control in their life. When you make all the decisions for them, they won’t learn how to make good choices on their own. Allow your children to make some decisions in their life by giving them choices, even if they’re small and seem silly.
If they want to watch television, give them a few shows to choose from. If they want a snack, give them three options. This way, they’ll feel like they’re making the decisions in their life, and you’ll be able to feel confident that they’re making good decisions.
When it comes to child discipline methods, giving your children a sense of control can be the best way to teach them how to make their own good choices.
Final Thoughts About Child Discipline Methods
It’s important to remember that you should use all of these child discipline methods in moderation. You don’t want to be too strict, or too lenient. Use your best judgment to make sure your children are progressing in the right direction.
Being a parent isn’t easy, and discipline is certainly a large part of the parenting process. Hopefully, these child discipline methods can help you and your family understand each other even better.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this post!
