When children are young, you must teach them how to behave in a socially acceptable manner. The rules and punishments you set up now will follow you all the way through your child’s life and into adulthood. ere are the best tips you can take in disciplining a toddler.
Setting boundaries to stop your child from engaging in aggressive (hitting and biting), dangerous (running out into the street), and improper behavior is the goal of punishment, according to many parenting experts (throwing food). When employees breach the rules, it’s important to follow through with penalties, which is referred to as “being a good boss.”
Be prepared for bumps in the road.
A child’s behavior might be influenced by a variety of factors, including hunger, exhaustion, or frustration from being kept inside all day. Bad behavior can also be triggered in certain settings and at certain times of the day. It’s not uncommon for people to get swamped in the transition between activities (waking up, going to bed, stopping play to eat dinner). Your child will be better prepared if you give them a heads-up.
Choose your conflicts wisely.
The more times you use the word “no” in a day, the less effective it will be. Identify the worst offenders and focus your efforts on them, rather than focusing on the rest. In the long run, your child will cease yelling at you when you check your email since they’ll realize that it doesn’t receive a reaction from you when they do it.
Determine what’s most essential to you, then set limits and penalties accordingly. Allow your child to outgrow certain habits, such as insisting on wearing purple, that may be annoying but aren’t worth a lot of your time and effort (and only purple).
Preventive steps should be taken.
As long as you know what will set off the misbehavior and have a game plan in place, you can avoid some of it. When your pricey jewelry isn’t sitting out on the nightstand, kids won’t be tempted to mess with it. In the same vein, if you want to avoid having to wait for a table at a restaurant, arrive early. Also, if your 18-month-old has a habit of pulling cans from the shelf at the grocery store, include toys in the shopping cart for them to play with.
Keep your statements succinct.
Overt talking and being extremely emotional are equally worthless as a means of enforcing rules. Your words will escape the grasp of a 2- or 3-year-old with even the most advanced language skills because their attention span is simply too short. Rather than rambling on and on, this is far more impactful.
Stay the course.
A child’s ability to recognize the consequences of their actions on those around them is at its peak between the ages of 2 and 3. It’s easy to send your child mixed messages if your response to a given circumstance is inconsistent. For example, if you let your son throw a ball in the home one day but not the next.
Until your child stops misbehaving, there is no way to know how many episodes and reprimands it will take. In the end, they’ll learn their lesson if you answer the same way every time.
As a last resort, use distraction and redirection.
All day, parents try to divert and redirect their toddlers, but they must persevere. Do not be alarmed if your youngster uses the restroom ten times in one day and unrolls the entire roll of toilet paper. They won’t remember it for long.
Introduce repercussions in this step.
Any time your kid does anything you don’t like, you want them to understand how their actions have an effect on other things. When a child takes a lifetime to choose their pajamas, they’re also opting out of reading before bed. No bedtime tale in this case, as a result of excessive PJ selecting. They might let you choose their pajamas the next time, or they might let you choose them for them.
Don’t be afraid to take a stand in order to avoid a fight.
If you’re looking to discover how to best discipline a toddler, don’t cave to negative conduct. We all hate to be the party pooper. Let’s say that your youngster is insisting that you buy the sugary cereal that they saw on television. It’s best to stick to your guns in this situation; you’ll be glad you did (even if it means a fight in the grocery store).
Don’t worry about the kid.
Never hesitate to call attention to the fact that a particular action is impermissible. In no way should you tell your child that they are unworthy of your love and affection. You want them to know that you care about them, but you don’t like how they’re acting right now.
When your 18-month-old yanks the dog’s tail or your 3-year-old refuses to brush their teeth for the zillionth night in a row, it’s hard to keep your cool. It’s better to express your feelings calmly rather than yell at the person you’re upset with. Inhale, count to three, and lower yourself to your child’s level of vision. Deliver the rebuke with speed and firmness, seriousness and sternness.
Catch your child doing something right.
The more you praise your child for good behavior, the more likely they are to do it themselves. For encouraging excellent behavior, positive reinforcement works wonders.
Be a positive role model for others.
Your child will follow your example if you remain cool in the face of adversity. And if you’re displeased, they’ll likely throw a temper tantrum in return. Since young children often imitate their parents’ conduct, setting an example for them is critical.
Listen to your youngster.
When you can, repeat back to your child what he or she has said so that they know you’ve heard them.
Empathy should be taught.
It’s difficult for a 3-year-old to understand why they should stop doing something they enjoy, such as biting, punching, or snatching toys from other children. Instead, teach children empathy: “When you bite or beat someone, it hurts them.'” This teaches your youngster that their actions have an impact on others and that they should consider the implications of their actions first.
Make good use of time-outs.
The time-out is the most common method of disciplining a child who misbehaves or refuses to listen, and for a good reason: denying them your attention is an efficient approach to convey your message.
Don’t use spanking as a punishment.
Although you may feel like a child, remember that you are the adult in this scenario and resist the need to act like one. If you want to get your point, though, there are many more effective methods than slapping or yelling. Consider taking a breather and rethinking your strategy when you’re being tormented by your child for the 10th time.
Reiterate your love for your youngster.
When disciplining a toddler, a positive statement at the end of a discipline conversation is always a good idea. The fact that you’re ready to move on signals your youngster that you’re ready to put the past behind you. As a result, it reinforces the fact that you’re doing so out of love.