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Are you struggling to get your child to obey you? Raising a child can be an extremely difficult task, especially if your little one tends to go against your rules. Disciplining your child is important if you want them to grow up with good morals. However, it’s also crucial that you teach your child lessons using healthier methods.
Many parents believe that spanking their children is the only way to get them to listen to them. But other healthier and more effective methods can teach your child to behave, all while building a stronger relationship with your little one. Here are six strategies that work.
1. Help Your Child Recognize Bad Behavior
Many believe that there is no such thing as a terrible or malicious child. The actions of the child are what’s considered bad, and your child can pick up these habits from what they see around them.
If you see your child bullying or hitting another child, rather than telling them how bad they are, consider pointing out how bad the action was. You should also explain why the behavior is unacceptable.
For instance, telling your child that they can seriously injure another if they hit them can help them understand the consequences of their actions.
2. Introduce Time-Outs
Sometimes, children misbehave because they’re hyperactive and bored. If your child starts throwing toys or a tantrum, you can start introducing time-outs as a way to get them to calm down.
Set up a chair in a secluded area where there are no distractions from toys or the television. When your child misbehaves, they must sit in the chair until they calm down or change their behavior. This will give your child a few minutes to think about their actions.
3. Turn Mistakes into Lessons
When your child does something they shouldn’t, it’s a great opportunity to teach them valuable lessons about their behavior. For example, if they snatch something from you or another child, ask your child how it made them feel when it was done to them.
Then, explain that snatching can also make the other person feel bad or even sad. This will help your child recognize how their actions can affect others, which may develop their empathy.
4. Sleep Training Your Child
Sleep training is a process that parents use to help babies sleep on their own. Additionally, this type of training can teach children to fall back asleep on their own if they wake up without help from their parents.
Experts suggest that you should start sleeping training your baby when they reach 4 to 6 months of age. There are many baby sleep training methods you can try, such as:
- Pick up, put down: This method is when you pick your baby up when they’re crying or fussing and then place them back in their cot once they’ve calmed down.
- Using the Ferner method: Allow your baby to fuss for a set period before going into the room to reassure your little one. You’ll then leave the room after they’ve calmed down.
- Chair method: Sit next to your baby’s cot until they fall asleep. Move the chair further away every night until you’re out of the door.
There are many other methods you can try. It’s important to train your baby to sleep without your assistance or presence, which gives them healthy coping mechanisms as they grow.
5. Set Strict Boundaries
Your child is always going to try and push their luck so they can get away with certain types of behavior, like playing before finishing their homework or getting snacks at breakfast. It’s important to set up strict boundaries to teach your child that they can’t always get what they want.
For example, you can make a rule that your child will only get snacks once they’ve finished all their vegetables. Or they can only watch TV if all their chores are done. Developing boundaries helps your children set limits for themselves and improve their self-discipline as they grow older.
6. Consider Rewarding Good Behavior
When your child shows signs of good behavior, like doing their chores without you asking or sharing their toys with other children, you can reward them. Take your child out for ice cream or allow them extra time to watch their favorite shows and thank them for being good.
Rewarding your child for good behavior will show them that whenever they do what they’re supposed to, great opportunities can come their way.
Final Thoughts
Children are extremely impressionable, so teaching them good moral values in the beginning can help them grow into respectable adults. Use the tips in this article to help you discipline your child using healthier methods.
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