Parenting
Discipline
Disciplining children in a healthy way is one of the most important and difficult parts of parenting. Loving, yet firm discipline from parents helps children grow up to be self-disciplined, well-adjusted, and happy. How children should be disciplined depends on their age, stage of development, personality and many other factors. Physical punishment is strongly discouraged though, no matter what age your children are or what stage of development they are in. This means spanking is not an option.
The Basic Goals of Discipline are to
- Protect children from danger.
- Help children learn self-control and self-discipline.
- Help children develop a sense of responsibility and learn values.
4 Rules of Effective Discipline
Respect
Children should be able to respect that their parents have the right to discipline them. Name-calling, shouting at children and humiliating them, will make it difficult for children to respect and trust their parents.
Consistency
Discipline that’s not consistent is confusing to children, no matter how old they are. It is hard for children to respect their parents if the rules change. If parents sometimes give in to tantrums or ignore bad behaviour, it can reward children and make it more likely that these behaviours will happen again.
Fairness
Children need to see discipline as being fair. The results of their actions should be related to their behaviour. If your child throws food on the floor, make sure he helps you clean up the mess. Make sure it is cleaned up before he does something else. When the mess is cleaned up, the discipline is over.
You
As a parent, you have a special bond with your child. If you teach your child discipline with respect, and make sure that it’s consistent and fair, you’ll have lasting positive effects on your child.
For more information on parenting, visit the Parenting Styles, Stressful Situations, and/or Communicating Needs and Feelings sections of this site or visit the websites below:
Caring for Kids (the Canadian Pediatric Society)
http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/
When your child misbehaves: Tips for positive discipline:
http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/behaviour&parenting/Misbehaves.htm
Guiding your child with positive discipline:
http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/behaviour&parenting/PositiveDiscipline.htm
BC Healthfiles
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile92i.stm
Manitoba Health
http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/documents/discipline.pdf
Sources:
Washington State Child Care Resource and Referral Network: Understanding Your Child’s Feelings. http://www.childcarenet.org/understanding-your-child-s-feelings
Child & Family Canada: Temper Tantrums: What causes them, how to prevent them and how to cope with them. http://www.cfc-efc.ca/docs/invest/00002_en.htm
Guiding your child with positive discipline: http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/behaviour&parenting/PositiveDiscipline.htm