Disciplining Toddlers

Toddlers come to you like a blank canvas, wherein, you would have to paint different pictures which would teach the young minds to blend themselves with the rest of the world. And needless to say, this has to be done right from scratch. And it has to be remembered that once the color goes in to create something on this canvas, it becomes really difficult to undo it. Which is why, parents must be extremely careful in choosing the right type of colors, the ideas which they would paint, and the course of the painting.

How to Inculcate Discipline In Toddlers

Before I begin, I would like to stress on the fact that I am not a professional adviser to give you the right directions in disciplining your toddlers. Whatever I am going to pen down, are a shadow of my personal experiences in child care.

Tip #1
The first tip I would give you is about using the word 'No' for what it is meant to be. For instance, if your child has done something unacceptable, then do not lay your thought on negotiating the situation. Instead, use the word 'No' firmly. At this age, your toddler is not aware of the importance of obeying your orders, and so it is you who would have to be on the lead. It is most likely that your toddler would whine with all her 'why's', and so you must use this as an opportunity to make her understand as to why are you stopping her from doing a certain thing. Always use reasoning, and not corporal punishment, as your primary tool in disciplining children.

Tip #2
As a parent you must know when to react harshly and when to do it in a calm way. Being a rude daddy or a mommy, at all times, does not work. Trust me, it didn't for me. Toddlers, as I have mentioned, are empty canvases, without the colors of what's bad and what's good. Once they plunge themselves into something, it is you who would then help them see the difference between good and bad. So, decide if your reaction to certain acts is really worth it.

Tip #3
One of the most important aspect to be kept in mind while disciplining toddlers is about using the power of creating consequences. It is not something to be used to keep the child in fear, but it is a tool that would help them take decisions with a rational mind, when they grow up. Every decision has a consequence, and when you weigh the consequences before, you run minimal risk of blowing up what you have decided. So keeping this in mind, always help your toddler understand the consequence of good and bad actions. For instance, if your child is not coming out of the bathtub, then warn her that you would close the door and turn off the lights. Otherwise, it is most likely that your toddler would take you for granted.

Tip #4
One of the wisest quality God has bestowed on us is the ability to use what is known as empathy. This virtue is something which you would need every now and then. If you are not allowing your child to be at the zoo for long, then let her know that even you wanted to, but it's getting late. Try to voice her feelings to herself, but in your way. Knowing that you do understand what she feels, is one harmless way to know that you care thus, calming her down.

Tip #5
Although not always possible, but another essential tip which help making toddlers behave in a discipline manner is about finding an alternative to unacceptable child behavior. For instance, if she is stubbornly throwing out stuff from the dressing table, then show her what fun it is to throw clothes in a basket. With repeated attempts you would be able to teach her one such constructive behavior.

Tip #6
If you are noticing what bad your toddler resorts to, you must be twice as responsible to see what good she does, as well. And to show her that you are pleased of what she is doing or has done, is to reward her. The reward may be a treat, a toy, a trip to the zoo, anything that you make her feel loved and pampered.

Tip #7
And coming to my last tip, it is about realizing the importance of being consistent. Just like a cup of tea has to be stirred repeatedly to dissolve the sugar, you need to follow all these tips with consistency and whenever there is a need. With time, your actions would be learned well before she enters the next phase of child development and growth.

So, these were some tips which I fished out from my own personal experiences when it came to disciplining toddlers. Well, I do not boast that these tips worked perfectly well for me, but I won't even deny that they have done well enough. So here's wishing you best of luck!