As your little one grows up, they develop new abilities. Unfortunately, one of them is the skill of driving their parents crazy. The temptation to snap is completely understandable. However, at such a young age, a child won’t even grasp why they upset you, so harsher punishment won’t mean anything to them either.
So what alternatives do parents have? According to psychologists, there are gentler ways to discipline a child that you might not even be aware of — and they’re far more effective than, say, yelling. AdmiGram.com explains how to discipline a disobedient child the right way.
5 Methods of Gentle Discipline for a Child
Withholding Affection
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This is one of the gentlest methods of discipline. When a one-year-old hits mom’s face with their palm, they’re testing whether it’s okay to do that. Mom needs to show that it’s not. How? Put the child down and firmly say, “No!” They’ll understand that if they do it again, they’ll lose their greatest pleasure — mom’s hugs. But always stay fair: the consequence should match the misbehavior.
Cause and Effect
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Children over the age of three already have a fairly good grasp of cause and effect. Santa doesn’t bring gifts to naughty kids. If you won’t share your bucket in the sandbox, don’t be surprised when no one wants to play with you. If you throw a tantrum, the people around you will think you’re a crybaby. Here, mom isn’t the one punishing — she’s simply showing the child that bad actions have consequences.
Explaining Consequences
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Children over the age of five already have a solid sense of right and wrong. So take a more explanatory tone more often, and talk to your child about what is and isn’t allowed. Set clear rules, and explain that breaking them comes with consequences. Help them understand how their behavior affects others and what will happen as a result.
Working Through Mistakes
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After your child misbehaves, talk it through with them. This really works. Let them explain why they did it. Ask what they could have done differently to avoid the situation. Help them recognize their mistake and guide them toward acting less impulsively next time.
Reinforcing Good Behavior
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Praise and encourage your child for their positive actions and effort — it shows them that good behavior gets noticed and rewarded. When they misbehave, start with a warning that they risk losing that. If that doesn’t work, move on to a timeout or the loss of a privilege. A consistent system of rewards and consequences teaches kids that their actions have outcomes.
It’s worth remembering that the goal of discipline should be teaching, not just punishing. Your approach should stay balanced, fair, and suited to your child’s personality and abilities.
image on top: Kiana Bosman / Unsplash
