If you are having problems with your big kid discipline strategy, perhaps it’s time to take a different approach. The solution might not be where you expect it. Punishing your child for bad behavior might seem like something logical, but in reality, there are many other better alternatives. In this article, you will learn about 5 of them. With no further ado, here they are!
1. Remember that Discipline is not Synonymous with Punishment
To help you understand what discipline actually means, we need to tell you that the word itself comes from “disciplinare”, which is a Latin word that translates as “to teach.” As you can see, it has nothing to do with punishing your kid.
Instead of punishing your child when they do something bad, you need to do your best to create a relationship that is full of love and respect. If your child respects you, they won’t question your orders. Of course, this is something that’s much easier said than done. The good news is that there are some simple ways to earn your child’s ultimate respect. One of them is to treat them justly, that is, reward them for good behavior.
2. Reward Your Kid for Good Behavior
The fact is that positive reinforcement is a crucial factor in big kid discipline. There are different types of positive reinforcement – giving a smile, rewarding them with a nice word, giving a high five, or giving a treat. All of these types have one thing in common – each of them is much more effective than any type of negative reinforcement.
3. Don’t Wrap It Up
Sometimes, the reason why your kid isn’t responding well to your commands is that they don’t understand what exactly you want from them. So, when guiding your child, make sure that you’re direct enough for them to be able to understand you properly. This way, your child will see that you’re giving them orders for a reason. Not only because you’re in charge.
It would also be great to explain the rules, so that your kid will be able to understand that their behavior comes with consequences. The child needs to know that good behavior will be rewarded with an appropriate reward, which won’t be the case with bad behavior.
4. Prevent Bad Behavior Before It Happens
When it comes to serious issues, such as those that are dangerous to your child’s health, the solution is not to stop them, but prevent them before they even happen. For example, if there’s a chance that your kid would fall down the stairs, it’s better to install a safety gate than to spend ages telling them to keep away from the stairs. Although this advice might not do much for big kid discipline, it will give you a piece of mind. At least you won’t have to worry too much about your kid’s safety and well-being.
5. Stay in Touch With Pediatrician
As every child is unique, there isn’t an ultimate solution to all the problems related to their discipline. That is why if your child isn’t reacting well to your big kid discipline method, a wise idea is to get in touch with professionals. Pediatricians, children psychologists, teachers, – all were schooled to know how to deal with children. They will know how to help you…
Final Note
No one ever said that parenting was easy, especially not if the big kid development methods aren’t being very effective. The key is to have patience, but even that won’t solve the problem if your kid is behaving badly. You need to do your best to find the right solution to the problem. We believe that it might lie in one of the tips described above.
