Discipline Guidance for All Ages
Your child is growing and changing at different stages. And different discipline methods and strategies should change and suit to the needs of your child at certain stages. As parents we should have a clear understanding:
- where your child is at
- what typical behavior issues you must face with
- what best discipline strategies you can call for
I found Holly Bennett’s article can help you to be confident in facing with the changing needs of your child as he/she grows from one stage to another:
Babies are not able to understand right and wrong, and they do not deliberately “misbehave” ….
So why even talk about discipline? Two reasons. First, babies do need some limits: Even if they fuss, infants must be buckled into their car seats, for example. That’s a first experience of discipline. Second, the love and trust that grows between you and your baby now, and the understanding you gain of his unique personality and needs, is the foundation that will underpin effective positive discipline in the future…..
- Years 1 & 2: Little Whirlwinds
Able to see the world only from their own perspective, prey to uncontrolled emotions and impulses, curious about everything, driven to assert their will, toddlers are high-maintenance creatures….
In terms of setting limits, even verbal toddlers can’t understand or follow rules the way an older child can…..and they aren’t capable of complex reasoning…
Childproofing, supervision, prevention, distraction — this is the stuff of everyday life with a toddler……
Setting predictable routines and rituals, using do’s rather than don’ts, modeling and using time-out will add benefits to positively build up your child’s development.
- Years 3 to 5: Eager to Please
Preschoolers are busy acquiring all the skills they yearned for as toddlers: talking, jumping, drawing, building, pedaling, pretending….
Like toddlers, preschoolers sometimes backtrack in their progress. “Regression is common, especially with something like toilet training,” says Lynn. “When kids get busy or stressed, they may need a rest from being so grown-up.”
- Years 6 to 8: The Golden Years
Though these are often seen as the “easy” years, kids at this stage have their own challenges to face. The transition to grade one can be taxing for some kids, leading to tears, tantrums or conflict with siblings when they get home….
“Around puberty, kids develop the ability to think abstractly and handle ideas more,” says Ottawa parent educator Betsy Mann. So they are able to stand back and question things — including our rules — in a new way.
And they are eager to increase their independence, says Mann. “They’re asking to go to the park alone with friends. They want to have some money of their own, and more control over how they spend their time.”
Meanwhile, hormones are kicking in big time, usually sooner for girls, but Marshall says we exaggerate the emotional swings of adolescents: “They are just more lively than us sluggish adults.” Friends take on great importance, supporting each other through each leaving-the-nest step. And kids are working to define themselves, their passions and goals and style.
With this clear picture depicted by Holly, you would not feel confused just like living in the dark. As parent you will not only know why your child behaves this way, but also know how to respond to and correct his/her undesirable behavior. Holly’s article is easy to read without any psychological jargons and is so down-to-earth. Thanks to Holly for giving us a clear and succinct picture of how to go about discipline.
The Discipline Difference [todaysparent.com]