Best Way to Discipline a Child
A. Gautam
American Academy of Pediatrics has recommendations on strategies that work best while trying to discipline a child. These recommendations are helpful in not only managing children’s behavior but also in ensuring healthy development.
Set example
If parents are overly emotional and agitated while trying to discipline, children will model that behavior. If parents or other grown-ups are calm and rational, the children will respond to the message.
Clarity
What the parents want the children to do should be clear to both parties. The limits and the rules should be simple, clear, and age appropriate. Be sure to revisit the rules as children grow and change personalities.
Consequences
The consequences or results of bad behavior should also be clear. Most importantly, every time a child doesn’t follow the rule, the consequence should be followed. For example, if a teenager stays past the allowed time on the cell phone, and the rule is for it to be taken away for a day, the cell phone should be taken away for a day each time the rule is broken. If a toddler doesn’t put away the toys when asked and the rule is to put them away for the day, the rule should be followed each time.
Give the child a voice
Give the child a chance to explain their bad behavior. Ensure that a child can come to you in times of need and trouble. Do not rush to punishment before hearing the child out. That way when the child gets in trouble when you are not around, he or she feels safe to come to you. Calmly explain to the child why what he or she did was wrong.
Reward good behavior
Parents should praise a child for following a rule. Notice the good behavior and be vocal about it. Also note all the times a child tries to follow a rule, like a small child putting the toys away. With enough positivity and sense of security, a child will learn to follow the rules and do it well.
What does recommendations mean as it is used in paragraph 1 of this article?
Responses
A Course of action suggested as suitable or appropriateCourse of action suggested as suitable or appropriate
B Plans that best work for disciplining a childPlans that best work for disciplining a child
C Prescriptions or list of steps that doctors suggestPrescriptions or list of steps that doctors suggest
D The results of research according to pediatricians