We must not forget that we were kids once and we also did some things that were not right. However, we learned from those experiences and so can our kids.
Know that in order for discipline to work, discipline needs to be:
- given by an adult who the child trusts and has a bond with;
- Relate, close to the behavior needing change;
- Seen as ‘fair’ to both the parent and the the child;
- developmentally and temperamentally appropriate; and
- Uplifting, ie, inspiring enough for change in behavior.
It is also very important that the parent learns to be more patient. Children most of the time do not know what they’re doing and have no mal intentions. It is also important that a parent does not react right away. If the parent reacts right away, the reaction may not be the best way to treat and teach the child. Parents who react by yelling at their child are only teaching them that the best way to deal with problems is by yelling.The parent should take time to breathe and take in what the child did and to think about solutions to the problem. This way the parent will be less likely to react in anger and more on reason.
Another way the parent can deal with a misbehaving child is by diverting the attention of the child to something that is not disruptive. For instance, if the child is coloring on the walls, the parent should direct their attention to a cool coloring book or even to a whole new activity.
The occasional spank is also a good way to deal with a misbehaving child. Although, this can be seen as unethical their has been studies that show that an occasional spank does not negatively affect a child. Instead, it helps the child understand that what they did was wrong. This doesn’t mean that a parent should abuse this and hit their child frequently. This would be just wrong and studies have shown that extreme use of physical punishment does not work. It just teaches kids that the way to react to things is through aggression.
Ultimately, it is important that a parent is involved in their child’s life, while also giving them some freedom.
Healthy Parenting Styles 