How To Discipline Your Child

Raising a child is no easy task. It requires lots of efforts on the part of the both the parents, to make sure that their child grows up to be a mature and responsible adult. One of the main aspects of parenting a child comprises of disciplining him/her. You have to tread this area with caution. Being stricter that necessary can make a child stubborn, while exercising too much leniency is bound to result in more misbehavior. In other words, you need to give exactly the right type of punishment, in the right amount and at the right time. In case you need any help in this regard, we are at your service. Go through the following lines and know how to discipline your child.

Tips For Disciplining Children

Be Calm, But Firm

One of the first tips that you need to remember, while trying to discipline your children, is to refrain from anger. Shouting at your kids or using harsh words is hardly going to do any good. Rather, you need to be calm and show a great deal of patience. At the same time, make sure that you stick to what you are saying. If you don't stay firm and give in to their tantrums, they are more likely to repeat the same behavior in future.

Learn To Praise

If you want to discipline your children, you also need to learn to praise their good behavior, along with condemning the misbehavior. Let your child know that you appreciate the good acts that he/she indulges in. Remember, positive reinforcements are as necessary as negative persuasions. Only scolding and punishing is not going to do any good. In fact, as far as possible, you should mold the behavior of your child in a positive way.

Don't Criticize

If your child indulges in wrong behavior, you need to explain him/her what is wrong in his/her acts. As much as possible, avoid criticizing your child, especially in front of other people. Make sure that he/she knows that even though you disapprove of his/her behavior, you will never ever stop loving them. Never make proper behavior a pre-requisite for loving; otherwise your child might end up being insecure and indulge in even more negative behavior.

Keep Away From Physical Punishments

Physical punishment is something that has never helped, nor even will help, discipline a child. Rather than molding the behavior of your children, it is bound to make them much more aggressive and angry. In fact, they might end up being stubborn about their behavior altogether. In case this happens, you can be sure that you will never ever be able to correct the manners of your child. As it is, spanking has never proved more effective that other forms of punishment.

No Bribing Please

Bribing is one thing that you should never ever indulge in, while trying to discipline your child. You can always give him/her a reward after he/she has done something positive, without your prompting. However, giving or promising to give your child a reward even before he has indulged in positive behavior, mainly with the aim of motivating him/her, is tantamount to bribing. Rather than disciplining your children, bribing will make them manipulative.

Be Consistent

Whatever steps you follow, for inducing discipline in your children, make sure that you remain consistent with the same. More often that not, you will find the children testing your patience limits. In case you vary in the type and extent of punishments for indiscipline, it is likely to encourage more unruliness on the part of your child. Let him/her know that you will stick to your actions, irrespective of the tantrums thrown by him/her.