Strategies for successful discipline and limit-setting
Setting rules and guidelines for children can be daunting, but is necessary for their social and behavioral development. These strategies can help:
Be consistent. “Yes” means “yes,” and “no” means “no.”
Be precise. Provide one-step directions: “Put your blocks in the bucket,” and “Put your shirts in the drawer” instead of, “Put your clothes and toys away.”
Be positive. Praise your child when you see them being good.
Be flexible. Provide many opportunities for your child to correct their own behavior. Show them what “being good” means.
Be quick. Respond quickly to both good and bad behavior. Timing is important.
Be sure. Phrase your request as a statement, not a question – a question implies choice.
Be patient. Behavior takes time to change – it can take a week to change problem behavior for every month it has occurred.
Be prepared. Problems may increase as you’re trying to change behaviors and meeting with some resistance.
Be prompt. Use a timer to set the duration of an activity and when another will start, and stick to it.
Be choosy. Pick your battles. It’s better to not make a request because you’re tired than to make the request and give in because you’re too tired to follow through.
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