Child Discipline: When Things Don't Work

From Wheretofindpedia

Child discipline can be a challenge. As parents it is our responsibility to do our best to help our children develop into adults who know how to function in the world. So how can we help them?

Firstly by being consistent. Consistency is of the utmost importance in whatever we do. Our children need to know that we mean what we say and that we say what we mean. If we don't do this our children can get confused and will start to challenge our boundaries more and more often. This is not good parenting practice.

When a teenager leaves school and ventures into the world, they will inevitably be left following instructions from a boss in their chosen line of work. So they need to learn the skills to follow instructions from other people. It is our responsibility as parents to teach them how to do that.

Secondly, be willing to try something different if what you are doing isn't working. There is no shame in doing that. Parenting is a journey and we don't always know exactly how to go about handling child discipline issues. It is OK to try something different if what we are doing stops working.

Sometimes what works one month doesn't work the next month. Most things lose their appeal after a while. That's just the way it is. So when something ceases to be effective, be willing to entertain other thoughts.

Thirdly, always lead by example. Your children are always watching you whether you think they are or not. You cannot tell your kids one thing yet do another. And this is where so many parents get it wrong.

Parents are required to lead by example in everything they do. We cannot afford to hold grudges against people because our kids will follow and do the same thing towards others. We should not be impatient at traffic lights as that will show our kids that it is OK to be impatient when it is really not OK at all.

Whatever character traits we are trying to bring out in our kids we must show them by example. This is a big ask and as parents we have a huge responsibility. But if we remember these three things child discipline will be easier for you to maintain.

About the Author

Kim Patrick is a single mother with four children, living in Queensland, Australia. She is a seminar speaker, author and parent coach, and runs an online mentoring program for parents. She is also creator of the "My Sleeping Angel" CD series, aimed at facilitating behavioural changes in children while they sleep.

Parents can obtain a copy of her best selling CD for just one dollar by signing up for a FREE 30 day trial of parent mentoring at http://www.yourchildcanbehave.com.