Effective Discipline Strategies for Parents - Useful Techniques and Methods
By Andrew Loh
Child psychologists around the world recommend many methods and strategies that teach discipline to your children. Most of these methods or techniques rely on some forms of punishments or reprisals that make children understand the basics of not obeying the normal rules. Some of the simple and easy discipline strategies for parents are as follows:
Denying or withholding privileges
The reasoning is very simple. If your children fail to follow your instructions, you will need to tell them that they will have to give something up that they like very much. In other words, they may need to lose the liberty or freedom to use the privilege. This method will teach your children about the natural consequence of breaking the rules. When you snatch away the right or privilege, your children will begin to understand the real meaning of discipline.
Additional tips:
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Never ever, apply this rule to the most basic needs of life such as food or clothing
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Choose a thing that your child cherishes the most, like a toy or a chocolate bar. Make sure that you are denying something that relates to the incident of misbehavior.
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The action should be swift and instantaneous. Do it right away, if your children are under the age of 7 years. For example, if your small child misbehaves, withdraw a particular privilege like watching a Dora TV show, almost immediately.
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Never ever, back down on your action. It could be counter-productive. You should be firm and resolute in your action.
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Make sure that you are not handing corporal punishment like beating. Punishment is a bad form of parenting.
Time-out technique
There are occasions when children break rules intentionally. Children may break set rules from time to time as well. This specific technique works very well for those children who are under the age of 5 years. However, you can use this method throughout your children's adolescence.
Requirements:
Method:
Procedure:
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Before applying this technique, you will need to inform your children about those unacceptable behaviors that will eventually invite the time-out punishment. Be firm and clear, how you will enforce the rule and play the game. You will need to repeat this exercise many times to get the desired result. Make sure that you never beat your children. Verbal reprimands work best with a tough mind.
The main goal of this exercise is to the separate the child from normal privileges, to help her or him to ponder over why you did that in the first place. Let the place chosen be very safe and secure for your children. Never ever, choose bathrooms or bedrooms for this exercise. All instances of bad behavior will get one simple warning. Repeated behavior will instantly attract the time-out punishment. You will need to order your child to go straightway to the chair and sit down on it.
If your child displays an instance of bad behavior, tell him or her why that behavior was bad and unacceptable. Do not show your emotions, while you are using this exercise. If your child refuses to sit on the chair, you may need to carry him or her to the chair to enforce the rule. You may also need to utter one simple, yet tough sentence - “you are sitting here, because you did not follow the rule”.
Never ever, respond to any plea, request or emotional outburst from your child. Set the timer to enforce the rule. The normal time-out time is one minute for every year of your child's age. If older children start making fuss, you may need to restart the timer and enforce another time-out session. Make sure that your child will serve the time-out sentence without fail. Soon after the completion of the time-out exercise, you can ask your child to resume the normal activity. Never ever, say sorry or seek pardon. Be firm and resolute in your action. Your children should understand that you are serious. A couple of sessions should work to your advantage.
Caution: Spanking is always dangerous and counter-productive. It may never be advantageous to you and your children. Know what your children can do and what they cannot. Understand their limitations. Once you enforce a rule, you should stick to it. However, be realistic and have a reasonable expectation from your children's true abilities. Remember that you are enforcing a rule to put your children on the right track. Never ever, be inhuman and do something that causes injuries to your children. After all, your children are precious to you and you want them to be the best citizens of the world.
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Setting Limits with Your Strong-Willed Child : Eliminating Conflict by Establishing Clear, Firm, and Respectful Boundaries
By Robert J. MacKenzie Ed.D.
Does your child constantly misbehave and ignore or refuse your requests for proper behavior? Is your relationship with your child based on conflict instead of mutual respect and cooperation? With the help of this groundbreaking book, you can create a positive, respectful, and rewarding relationship with your child.
Inside are proven techniques and procedures that provide a refreshing alternative to the ineffective extremes of punishment and permissiveness.
Parents and teachers alike will discover how to effectively motivate the strong-willed child and achieve proper conduct. You will learn how to:
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Understand and empathize without giving in
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Hold your ground without threatening
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Remove daily power struggles between you and your child
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Give clear, firm messages that your child understands and respects
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...and much more!
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