Crying, shutting down, arguing…these are all behaviors you (and most other parents) may have witnessed in your child as you watch them deal with struggles, both academically and socially.
Disciplining your child while being a positive role model in their life can be very difficult…
By utilizing positive discipline, we teach our children to be;
- Positive
- Caring
- Empathetic Individuals
Positive discipline helps facilitates self-esteem, teaches them respect for others, and implements problem-solving skills to use in all aspects of their daily life.
Secrets To Positive Discipline
There are hundreds of ways positive discipline can be woven into a child’s daily life.
(For additional resources… visit our video library; Special Education Behavioral Help For Parents)
Let’s cover a few that have worked well for me…
Evaluating The Environment For Good Behavior
Evaluating the environment for good behavior is the first step. We need to consider things such as;
- Daily Routines
- Peer Interactions
- Sleep Habits
- Home Environment
These are all external factors that we can easily control. There are critical questions to ask yourself when going through this step… including;
- Is your home environment calm, comfortable, and safe?
- Does your child get an ample amount of sleep each night?
- Does your child interact with peers that are positive and treat others with respect?
Promoting Good Behavior
Perhaps the most important thing to consider is how to promote good behavior in our children. Not that this process is easy… but there are a few steps I’ve had success in following;
- Always look for opportunities to reach out and praise your child when they do something good.
- Learn to choose your battles and discipline only those significant issues. Ask yourself, “Is this important?”
- Evaluate your child’s feelings. If they appear sad or extra quiet, try to find out why.
Spending “Alone Time” With Your Child
When possible, try to spend a little alone time with your child. Things can get pretty hectic in our lives, especially with multiple children.
By spending that one-on-one time, it sends the message to your child that they are important to you.
Too often, time gets away from us, and before we know it, weeks have passed without any significant one-on-one interaction with our children.
Offer Productive Ways To Seek Attention
I think the most important thing to consider when disciplining our children is how we can offer productive ways to seek attention.
More times than not, undesirable behaviors come from a need for attention. One way to do this is to tell them, “I need your help.” Give them significant duties in which they can help you.
Children of all are eager to be needed and will thrive from this attention.
All in all, it is so essential to help our children understand that they are capable of so much. We need to teach them the skills that help them do the right thing and make the right decisions.
Do you have tips and tricks that have worked regarding positive discipline?
If so… leave your suggestions in the comments below!
~Melissa
4 Comments
Great post. Teaching and encouraging children to be always positive does take effort and patient. But in my own ongoing journey, I do find that their well-being is the first key. Because I find it easier to make my kids discipline to study or do their homework when they’re happy and content. We also teach them that the importance of discipline is only for their own benefit. I always tell my kids that we, the parents won’t be there all the time for them, so they have to learn whatever needed for their future.
These are all great tips. I think what works for me is remembering that discipline is about teaching, not punishing.
This is fantastic! I have been having some problems with my 6.5 year old lately… I really think he is wanting the alone time attention. Need to focus on this! Thanks for the tips!
I have a 2 month old, but I should keep this in mind for when he gets older! It is a good way to look at parenting!