As your little one grows up, they develop new abilities. Unfortunately, one of them is the skill to drive their parents crazy. The temptation to lose control is evident. However, at such a young age, the child won’t even understand why they upset you, let alone more radical methods of punishment.
What alternatives do parents have? According to psychologists, there are more lenient methods of disciplining a child that you might not even be aware of. And they are much more effective than, for example, yelling at the child. AdmiGram.com explains how to properly discipline children for their disobedience.
5 methods of lenient punishment for a child
Deprivation of pleasure
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This is one of the lenient methods of punishment. When a one-year-old child hits mom’s face with their palm, they’re testing whether it’s acceptable or not. Mom should show that it’s not. How to do it? Put the troublemaker down on the floor and firmly say, ‘No!’ They’ll understand that by doing it again, they’ll lose their greatest pleasure – mom’s hugs. But always be objective! Misbehavior and its consequences should be directly proportional.
Cause-and-effect sequence
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Children over the age of three already have a fairly good understanding of the cause-and-effect relationship. Santa Claus doesn’t bring gifts under the tree for naughty kids. If you didn’t share the bucket in the sandbox, don’t be surprised that no one wants to play with you. If you throw a tantrum, people around you will think you’re a crybaby. In this case, mom isn’t acting as a punisher; she’s simply explaining to the child that there are always consequences for doing bad things.
Explanation of consequences
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Children over the age of five already understand well what is good and what is bad. Therefore, adopt a more educational tone more often and explain to the child what is allowed and what is not. Set rules and explain that after breaking the rules, there will be certain consequences for the child due to their bad actions. Allow them to understand how their bad behavior affects others and what consequences await them for it.
Working on mistakes
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After the child has been disobedient, discuss it with them. This works. Let them explain why they did it. Could they have acted differently? What could they have done differently to avoid such a situation in the future? Help them realize their mistakes and teach them less impulsive actions.
Supporting correct behavior
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Encourage and praise the child for their positive actions and efforts. This will help them see that their good behavior is valued and rewarded. Conversely, when the child misbehaves, start with a warning that they may lose all of this. If that doesn’t work, move on to temporary timeouts or loss of privileges. Use a system of rewards and consistent disciplinary measures to show the child that punishment is a consequence of their actions.
It’s important to remember that the goal of punishment should be education and learning, not just punishment. The approach to punishment should be balanced, fair, and tailored to the child’s individuality and capabilities.
image on top: Kiana Bosman / Unsplash
