How to discipline your child

HOW TO DISCIPLINE YOUR CHILD?

This period can be very exasperating, and you may be tempted to bear down on him. You may feel that his balkiness shows lack of respect for you, and that both his busyness and seeming destructiveness are deliberate naughtiness. However, the drive for independent thought and action is so important that it's cause for rejoicing rather than dismay.

It's a sign that your youngster is growing up normally from an emotional standpoint. If you make every situation as pleasant you can, and interfere with your child's actions only when absolutely necessary, he may never develop behavior habits which annoy you.

Good discipline begins with a consistent attitude on the part of both parents. You and your husband should present a united front. If something is wrong and cannot be done today, it's wrong and can't be done tomorrow. If you let him do
something one day, you can't expect him to understand why you try to stop him from doing it again.

But if he is sure of your love and faith in him, he'll be able to take limitations when it's necessary to protect or help him. At this age, punishment has little place in this scheme of discipline. Provide your young one with places to play, indoors and outdoors, where he can "let go" without colliding with adult requirements. If you're continually saying "no, don't do this," and "don't touch that," your commands will lose their significance and he'll ignore them.
 

At the times when he does run counter to grown-up ways, find out what's causing him to act as he does. Be patient and understanding of his need for independence.

You may feel that occasional punishment is necessary when he's older, knows what's wrong, and does it anyway, but punishment should never become a substitute for positive parent guidance.

Threatening the older child should definitely be avoided. If you feel that a penalty must be imposed for certain behavior it's only right to give your youngster fair warning. Then he goes right ahead and disobeys, you carry out the threat which you made. Nothing destroys a parent's authority fast than to make threats that are never carried out!

REGULAR DAILY ROUTINE

Keep to the daily routine that you've established. The child who seems naughty is very often tired, hungry, or overstimulated.
After he is past the first year, it may not seem so import that Baby have his meals and go to bed at regular times. You may feel that a few slip-ups won't matter. But don't let your-self be tempted.

The baby is happily adjusted to a regular routine now which is good for him as well as for you. A good routine tends to make the day go smoother. The necessary chores can be done without the tension that goes with haste and the irritability that shows when a baby is hungry or overly tired.

If every morning you dress him after breakfast and brush his hair and teeth, the brushing becomes as natural to him as breathing. If you're haphazard about these matters, or about mealtimes and bedtime, they often become a contest of wills that ends in some form of punishment before he gives in.
 

The unspoiled, unabused child is anxious to do what you want him to do, as soon as he understands what this is. The
attitude of the young child is of wonder at the world, of a desire to be one with it. He imitates you. If you do a thing twice a certain way, he wants to continue to do it that way. Your greatest allies in training are his desires to do what you want and his imitativeness, provided you yourself use them in the right way.

Parents who keep in close touch with a child can teach him the right way to do each new thing before he has a chance to fall into a wrong way. Sometimes this is easy. Sometimes it's more difficult, but it's always easier than overcoming a bad habit.

Continue an orderly routine throughout the first two years, and you'll be rewarded by an excellent set of habits and a co- operative attitude.

CHILDREN FEELING SAFE

Along with this desire to express himself as an independent person, there'll be noticeable dependence on you at times. He'll run back from things he's doing to make sure you're right where he left you. He may start to cry when you go out of his sight.

This may seem babyish and to belie his drive for independence. Instead, it means that he's checking up on his security. He wants to be free, but he also wants to be sure that you're standing by. After he has reassured himself on this point, he goes back to his new-found independence.

This doesn't mean that you can't ever leave him alone for short periods in his playpen or fenced play yard. Or that you can't go out occasionally and leave him in the care of someone else. But when he calls you in the midst of his play, or comes running to you, or whimpers at signs that you are going out, give him the reassurance he needs.

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