Discipline Techniques for Children at Different Stages
Parents often feel confused when they don’t know how to deal with the inappropriate behaviors of their children.
How do you keep a 1-year-old from heading toward the VCR? What should you do when your preschooler throws a fit? How can you get your adolescent to respect your authority?
Whatever the age of your child, it’s important to be consistent in disciplining your child. If you don’t stick to the rules and consequences that you set up, your child isn’t likely to either.
It is also very important to understand the needs of your child as a parent. What kind of discipline techniques would fit to your child at a certain developmental stage. Find out here how to vary your approach to discipline to best fit your child’s needs at different ages, suggested by Jennifer Shroff Pendley, PhD :
- Ages 0 to 2
As infants to toddlers are in the stage of developing a sense of right and wrong, a childproofing environment with modelling the right behaviours and time-out for stopping undesirable behaviours of toddlers are almost enough.
- Ages 3 to 5
As parents of children at this ages, the important job is to teach the rules of your family because they begin to understand the connection between actions and consequences. Do explain before you take every action of punishing them when they break the rules. And tell them what is the right thing to do, not just to tell them what not to do.
- Ages 6 to 8
As timeouts and consequences are also effective discipline strategies with this age group, use these strategies wisely and consistently. Follow through with what you say, or else you will risk undermining your authority. Be careful not to use unrealistic threats of punishment.
- Ages 9 to 12
Natural consequences are effective with kids in this age group. As they begin to request more independence, parents should teach them take up responsibility as well.
- Ages 13 and Up
Although your kid knows what is expected of him/her, (s)he still needs boundaries you set for him/her. Especially for the issues of homework, dating, visits by friends, you should discuss with them and make sure there is no misunderstanding. Teens need limits before you grant them great freedom and responsibility.
As parents, the important job is to have a good discipline foundation laid down for their children at early years. The earlier parents are able to consistently follow through the rules and boundary that are set for their children, the more possible parents have the authority to rectify their children’s misbehaviors.
Disciplining Your Child- [keepkidshealthy.com]