Stop the Spoiling of Your Child
How do you keep your child from smashing the DVD player? What should you do when your child throws a tantrum? How can you get your little one to respect your authority? Whatever the age of your child, it is important to be consistent when it comes to discipline. It is important that you, yourself will stick to the rules and consequences that you have set because you are your child’s model. This is an age-by-age guide to keep your little tyke from becoming spoiled rotten.
Age 0 to 2
Babies and toddlers are naturally curious. The best thing to do is to eliminate temptation by keeping objects like jewelries, electronic equipments, cleaning supplies and medicines well out of their reach. If you see your child moving towards an unwanted object, calmly remove your child from the area and distract him with a toy or a different activity.
Timeouts can be an effective discipline for toddlers. For example, a child who has been hitting, biting or throwing food, should be told why that behavior is not permitted and taken to a designated timeout area like a chair in a corner or bottom step of a stairs, for a set time to calm down. Keep in mind that longer timeouts are not effective for toddlers. Be a role model. Kids learn be watching and imitating their parents and other adults.
Age 3 to 5
As your child grows and begins to understand the connection between actions and consequences, make sure that you start comunicationg and explaining your family rules. Explain to your kids what you expect of them before you reprimand them for a certain behavior. For example, the first time your child decorates your walls with drawings using crayons, explain to him why this is not allowed and what will happen if he does it again. If he does it again, calmly remind him of your talk then enforce the consequences. This will help them remember and establish the rules firmly.
Age 6 to 8
While timeouts still works with this age group, a much clearer consequences can make a stronger impact. Again, consistency and follow-ups are crucial. Make good on any promise of discipline that you have made to them because they have to believe that you mean what you say. This is not to say that second chances are out, give a little allowance. However, don’t make any unrealistic threats of punishments. be realistic with the consequences you carry out. Huge ones may take away your power as a parent. If you ground your child for a month, he may not feel motivated to change his behavior because everything has already been taken away.