Children become naughty. It is very common. We have heard that children in the pre-schooling stage become naughty such as they may throw a flower vase on the floor, and it may break into pieces. Sometimes will paint with crayons on the drawing room wall. The teacher may complain in the school that he bites other children when the child is angry. In all these cases, the parents possess an important role to control their children. These are common scenes in today’s homes. In these cases, the parents ignore the thinking that children are too small to understand. Here, the concept of discipline is required. Here we will discuss, “this is how to discipline children from a very early time.
Discipline is essential
Some parents maintain discipline by giving verbal and even physical punishments such as scolding and biting. Many new-age parents maintain discipline in a softer and friendlier approach. But, sometimes, this is put into practice as a no-discipline approach.
Whether one likes it or not, discipline is an essential part of life and needs to teach and administered early in life. Parents may not need this concept in the first six months of infancy when the baby indulges in just two main activities-feeding and sleeping. Once past this age, the parents see noticeable changes in their baby’s behaviour. With every passing week, the baby acquires an increasing ability to master his environment. Increasing mobility, exploring nearby things and refusing to obey parental commands (especially at feeding times) becomes the new routine for the growing baby. It is the correct time to introduce the concept of discipline.
Simple Approach to maintain discipline
The baby can not understand complex commands or the logic behind any decision. But one thing the baby understands very soon is which of his acts make the parents smile and praise him. Parental appreciation is the cornerstone of child psychology, and that appreciation should be a tool for introducing discipline.
Throwing away a bottle or a spoon, playing with food or pulling at electric plugs or wires are often the first acts of a disobedient baby. It is a normal part of development when the baby explores everything in his environment. But in this phase, he needs to learn the limits of this exploration.
A simple firm no with a clear facial expression of disapproval when the baby is doing something wrong, a yes with a pleasing symbol of when he stops doing it is the way to begin to teach what is allowed and not allowed.
The baby will not immediately respond to these expressions and will learn to obey your commands. Consistency is the key here. Every time the baby does something wrong and sees a negative response from her beloved mother or father, he begins to grasp the cause-and-effect relationship between his action and the reaction. It is accepted by the child’s understanding of the concept of right and wrong behaviour through the positive or negative response of the parents to each type of behaviour.
The parent has to say no and show displeasure in some actions like breaking or spilling things, approaching a dangerous area, touching dangerous objects, putting harmful objects in the mouth or throwing temper tantrums. In the course of that duty, it is natural that the baby will cry and be unhappy for a moment. Parents who are over-protective and avoid this momentary unhappiness are wasting the opportunity to teach their little ones to differentiate good from bad behaviour.
Crying is okay
Keep the baby smiling is a parental motto, but many parents mistake its meaning for Never let the baby cry. This attitude often results in letting the baby do whatever he wishes to. Unintentionally, these parents stimulate in the baby the sense that Whatever they do is right. It can never be wrong or unacceptable to others. If your child cries because you have not accepted his negative behaviour, you should not feel guilty because what you are doing; is best for the child in the long run. Every such episode of crying or disappointment after a negative behaviour teaches the baby the lesson of life. Not everything in life goes in your way, and you have to be ready for rejection too. So, every such crying incident makes your child emotionally stronger and teaches the wisdom of following rules.
Do not misuse the authority
As parents, you certainly have the power to say yes or no, but as the superheroes keep saying, with power comes responsibility. How to exercise your authority is the key to successful parenting.
- When the baby is small, try to keep the environment free of no objects such as electric plugs and wires and other dangerous objects
- When your child becomes older, he begins to understand the logic behind your positive and negative commands, so make sure that your commands are consistent in their logic and execution. Permitting certain things at one time and objecting to them at other times going to confuse your child as to what he should do in those situations.
- Clearly define your set of rules regarding issues like food and eating habits; school work, language usage; playing activity; television, computer and gadget use; pocket money and bedtime.
- Be considerate of your child’s changing emotional needs and growing independence or modify the rules as necessary.
- Do not contradict your spouse or weaken her authority in front of the child. Discuss any controversial issues in private.
- Discipline is not only about criticism of wrong behaviour but also about appreciation of good behaviours. Be sure to show appreciation when your child does something right.
- Parents are role models for children. So, practice what you authorize.
Punishment
Physical punishment has proven to be no use in correcting wrong behaviour. It sends the incorrect signals that it is okay to hit another person. Sometimes, it leads to the repetition of negative acts. More than the physical harm such punishment causes. Punishment brings emotional harm to children.
Verbal punishments such as shouting or taunting can also lead to emotional scarring and usually serve no purpose.
Pocket money, television, computer or gadget time or night out are the reason to affect negative behaviour in children above two years of age.
When it comes to child discipline, always start early. Starting late might be too late.
Disclaimer
This content has not come from any researched sources. Take it for informational purposes only.