by Kimberly Wolf

Created on: January 10, 2009   Last Updated: May 28, 2011

Toddlers are amazing little people. Full of curiosity, they learn to explore the world around them through observation and interaction with the help and guidance from their family. As your toddler starts to grasp the concept of right and wrong, they will try to test their boundaries which can sometimes lead to undesirable behavior. Establishment of rules, disciplinary action, and the use of some precautionary measures can transform your toddler's unruly behavior into that of a more acceptable and positive approach to their surroundings and loved ones.

We as parents sometimes make the mistake of assuming that our toddler always knows that what he or she is doing is wrong. Laying their moral foundation with a solid set of rules and guidelines will help them understand right from wrong.

When your child does something right, give them positive reinforcement through verbal praise. A reward for their excellent behavior is okay every now and again, however rewarding your toddler's every good act and word will make them lose sight of why they should do what is right.

When correcting your child for a wrongdoing, be specific in telling them why it isn't okay to hit for example, or to go near the stove. Explain why what they did is wrong, and why it's against your rules and what will happen if they break them.

Even after being told what the consequences are, your toddler will sometimes break one of your rules simply just to see what will happen. The course of disciplinary action chosen for the broken rule should take place right after the rule was broken so they understand what caused their punishment. Explain again why breaking that specific rule is wrong and inform your child what consequence will then take place.

While every parent has their own disciplinary methods, striking or physically disciplining your child can often do more harm than good. This rings true especially if your teaching your child that hitting is wrong and it is against one of your own rules. It can send your child mixed messages and they may begin to follow your example by striking people or things that they label "bad".

Some effective methods of discipline include designating a "time-out" spot for your toddler to remain in for a designated amount of time (this also works well as a "cool down" spot when temper tantrums arise). Another is taking away a toy or privilege for a few hours or the remainder of the day, depending on the severity of the broken rule. Your toddler may not grasp what

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