3 Ways To Handle Disciplining Your Toddler
Posted on: 2 August 2017
One the challenges of parenting a toddler are finding effective means of disciplining him or her. It can be hard to lay down the law on him or her, but it is necessary to do so to help him or her understand that there are consequences for breaking the rules. To help you get started, here are some suggestions for handling disciplining your toddler:
Do Not Underestimate the Importance of Prevention
A big mistake that some parents make is waiting to react to bad behavior from their preschooler. Although it is important to discipline negative behavior, you need to also focus on finding ways to prevent it from happening. A good way to do this is to plan to minimize conflicts that could possibly occur.
For instance, if your toddler is most likely to misbehave when he or she is hungry, make sure you have an eating schedule that avoids hunger. The addition of a snack to the day could make a huge difference. If your toddler has meltdowns when he or she is sleepy, make time for him or her to have a nap at some point each day.
Ensure Everyone Is on Board with Your Plan
Your plan is only effective if everyone who helps care for your child is on the same page. If your child attends daycare throughout the day and follows one set of rules there, he or she could be confused if there are a different set of rules at home.
Once you have a plan in place for dealing with behavioral problems, talk to each caretaker to ensure they are aware of the plan. Your child's daycare teacher will likely have some input on what will and will not work with your child. He or she can provide an unbiased view of your child's behavior and can provide tips based on his or her experience with your child.
Set Boundaries for Negotiations
Your child will likely try to wiggle out of any punishment that he or she is supposed to receive. The urge to want to give in to your child's negotiation tactics might be tempting. Sometimes, it is not harmful to do so, but in other situations, it can have a negative impact on your child.
Therefore, it is important for you to set the boundaries for negotiations. Decide on which issues you might be more lenient on, such as sneaking a snack. You also need to determine the set punishment for more serious offenses, such as hitting another child.
Check out a website like http://www.mountainsideschool.com for more information and assistance.
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