The Parent’s Guide To Disciplining A Young Child
Every toddler is unique. They absorb information differently; they behave in various situations differently; they react to their parents’ wishes differently. Making matters even more “exciting” for parents, the disciplinary methods that worked last week may be far less effective this week. Indeed, books that recommend only one “tried and true” parenting strategy often lack the flexibility to address a child’s penchant for switching gears.
In short, the more parenting strategies you have, the more effectively you can encourage the responses you expect from your little one. Today’s article will provide a few methods that you can use. When one fails to work (after working so well the previous week), substitute it for another. Over time, you’ll recognize which tactics tend to bring out the best behavior from your toddler.
The Art Of The Distraction
Few children are so focused that their attention cannot be diverted to a completely unrelated activity. The savvy parent can use this to his or her advantage. For example, suppose you have just cleaned your dining room because your friends are coming over for dinner. Your toddler picks that moment to bring all of his toys out and distribute them throughout the room.
Distract him by giving him a task. Ask him to put his toys away and put on his red sweater. Or, ask him to bring his shoes to you so you can help him put them on. It is a subtle disciplinary tactic, but can be effective.
Cause And Effect
A lot of people are afraid to let their children experience sadness or disappointment, even when those feelings are the result of their own actions. For example, if a toddler leaves his favorite toy at his grandmother’s house, his mother or father might rush to the store to replace it. This is a valuable opportunity for instilling a sense of discipline and responsibility.
Let your little one experience the results of his actions. For example, if he leaves his toy at his grandmother’s house, explain that he’ll have to wait until his next visit to recover it. A few moments of sadness may be worthwhile in order for him to learn the larger lesson of consequences.
Should You Ignore Bad Behavior?
Ignoring inappropriate behavior can be effective, but it’s difficult to know when to use it as a disciplinary strategy. For example, if your child is throwing a temper tantrum, ignoring it may not modify his behavior. On the other hand, suppose your two small children are arguing about something that is trivial (i.e. whose turn it is to read a book). Your intervention may hamper their ability to resolve the matter on their own. In fact, as long as they don’t begin hitting each other, this can be a fantastic teachable moment for them.
Parenting and disciplining toddlers can be challenging. The best results usually come from a balance of finesse, refinement, and parental savvy (as opposed to yelling). As noted, the more techniques you have from which to draw, the more flexibly you can maneuver in the choppy waters of raising a toddler.
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