Discipline

Children do not always behave the way you want them to. As a result, discipline is often necessary. Discipline helps children understand what you expect as a parent, how they should behave and what happens when they misbehave.

There are a number of strategies that parents can use to help keep their children out of trouble. One of the most important things you can do for your young child is to show them that they are loved and supported, unconditionally. When your toddler behaves well, tell her; when your toddler misbehaves, let her know that she may be disciplined, but she is still loved.

Your toddler needs you to teach her how to behave, how to manage her feelings and learn responsibility. Before a problem situation arises, there are several things that you as a parent can do. For example, you should be direct and specific when you ask your toddler to do something. Everything is new for children at this age, so being clear about your expectations even in the simplest task is important. It is also important that you be realistic about what a toddler can do for herself and take her away from situations that she cannot handle.

While it would be ideal if these parenting strategies were enough to keep your young child out of trouble, this is generally not the case. There are several age-appropriate ways that you can discipline your toddler should he misbehave. For example, if your toddler is getting into or playing with something he should not (e.g., touching a hot stove), try removing him from the unsafe area or object and saying "No" firmly. You could also try to interest him in something else.

You can also help keep your toddler out of trouble by making sure that your child is safe in your home. You need to ensure that dangerous objects (e.g., small objects; scissors; knives; matches; cleaning products) are out of your child's reach. Keeping these and other unsafe materials away from your toddler will reduce his temptation to play with them.

It is not uncommon for children at this age to have temper tantrums. Your toddler is learning what it means to be angry and frustrated, and needs your help in regulating her emotions. One strategy that you can use to calm your child down when she is having a tantrum is talking softly and holding her; the calmer your response is, the sooner the tantrum will be over. If the tantrum occurs in a public place, you may need to remove your toddler from the area until she calms down. Avoid giving in to your child's demands - this will only encourage more tantrums for getting her way in the future.

If your toddler continues to misbehave, she may need to be placed in a time-out. Have her sit on the bottom of a stair for a minute or two to think about her actions. Immediately after the time-out, you should remind your child of your house rules, helping her to understand her actions and the consequences. It would also be important to remind her that she is still loved!

Finally, it is important that you be a good role model to your child. Children learn a lot by observing others, so what you do will certainly influence how your child behaves. As the old adage goes, practice what you preach!

Source: Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota

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