Steering your children in the right path
AS a parent, I know that for every bit of fun and enjoyment to be had with children around, there’s always the possibility of consequences and necessary discipline, too.
It is the parent’s responsibility to teach their children right from wrong, as well as how to behave and how to treat others. I know – it is a big job.
Motivate positively
You can try to steer your children in the right direction to avoid unnecessary (and notso-fun) consequences and disciplinary actions simply by motivating them positively with a reward system. Sticker charts are great as are coin jars and other similar items.
With this idea, you’ll be able to discuss behaviours and expectations early on, and your child will know exactly what they will need to do to earn a sticker.
Just as your children will be able to have a sticker to their sticker chart for behaving well, they might also have to draw a Popsicle stick from the consequence jar when they misbehave.
Some ideas for this jar include early bed- time, no television for a night, an extra chore and timeout.
With this method, your child is choosing his or her own consequence and you’ll be around for the follow through.
Let them decide
By bringing your child into the conversation and letting them help determine the consequence, they will be able to fully contemplate the severity of their actions as well as brainstorm what kind of consequences would be equivalent to negative actions and behaviours.
Writing up a behaviour contract and having your child sign it once you decide upon a consequence you both find suitable, is a great activity.
After your children have thought over what they did wrong, determine what their consequence will be and then write the whole thing out to sign.
They will likely have a new outlook and won’t be confused about what they did wrong in the first place.
Teaching your children how they’re expected to behave on a day-to-day basis is difficult, and chances are you will have to discipline them for their actions a couple of times before they figure things out. – McClatchy Tribune Information Services