Disciplining Kids
“Disciplining kids without losing your cool… Not always an easy thing to do.”
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Perhaps the most difficult aspect of parenthood is disciplining. Being the disciplinarian of the household can be a hard job to handle. Discipline is a necessary part of raising well-rounded children, but sometimes, parents can find themselves getting angry or upset with their children, especially if they have already asked them to stop over a dozen times. It can lead to parents flipping out, yelling or screaming at their kids, or even breaking down from the stress of the situation.
The most important part of disciplining kids is remaining calm. Allowing your children to see your angst, no matter how frustrated you may be, can instill fear or even send them down a path of behavioral destruction.
Children mimic what they see, and you are their most prominent role model. If all they know is anger or frustration, they will eventually apply those emotions to the stressful situations they find themselves in throughout life.
To remain calm while disciplining kids, the first thing to do is approach the situation calmly. Make sure you have your child’s full attention when talking to them. Get down to their level, remove all other distractions, and look them in the eye. Firmly tell them whatever it is you need to get across, but don’t raise your voice while doing so.
It’s important to remember that children love to test their boundaries, to see just what they can get away with. Staying firm and following through with a punishment will teach your child that when you say not to do something, there will be consequences.
Whenever your child acts up, apply the appropriate disciplinary action that you warned them about. This will remove any confusion about the situation for your child, and show them that you mean business.
If your child is pushing you to the brink of a mental breakdown, leave the situation. It’s okay to walk away for a few minutes to collect your thoughts. Removing yourself from the room will prevent you from screaming or hitting your child out of anger, and give you a chance to rethink your current approach.
When you feel ready, approach your child and start again. If you feel yourself getting frustrated again, keep walking away and returning, or ask your partner to step in and handle the issue, if possible.
Disciplining kids doesn’t mean you have to take a completely negative approach. Praise your child for doing well, or for listening to you the first time you ask them not to do something.
Rewarding good behavior encourages your child to behave. Children crave attention, and sticking to a good disciplinary routine will teach them that bad behavior does not receive attention, while good behavior does.
Raising children is a lifelong process, and so is disciplining kids. Stick to it and stay firm with your punishment, and your child will quickly learn how to properly behave.
Remember that it’s normal to get frustrated, but you should remove yourself from the stress instead of acting or speaking out of anger. Staying calm will keep both you and your children happy.
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