by ChristaJ

Created on: May 12, 2010

As parents, you face many obstacles. It is not an easy task to maintain a balanced lifestyle 100% of the time. So, when your children act out, you are probably not going to get it right every time. It is important to find a discipline style that fits your family. Consistency and clarity are the most important factors when considering effective disciplinary styles. Here are some commons mistakes that are made when disciplining your child:

“It will be okay this time.”

Do not let it go! Set your boundaries and stick to them. This is where consistency plays in. Children catch on quickly when they find a weak spot in your discipline style. If you are reacting the same way each time, its likely your child will want to avoid it happening again.  Allowing them to get by once will make it more difficult to enforce in the future.

“Dad said I could.”

Get on the same page as your spouse. It is going to take both parents to enforce your family’s rules. Go over this with your spouse to determine what will and will not be allowed in your household. If either parent is allowing a little extra “slack”, it will definitely be more difficult to make your children listen the next time.

“Because I said so.”

Always explain to your child what they have done and why it is concidered wrong. If you provide an explanation it will provide them with a better understanding of the situation as a whole. Tell them what you expect of them and that you know they can do better. This could cause the problem to occur less. If they do not know what they are doing wrong, they are bound to do it again.

Basically, you need to set your boundaries and make them clear. Explain to your children what they have done and why they are being punished. Try to be consistent in your style of discipline. Children will be able to relate wrong-doings with punishment after noticing your ongoing trend.

By rewarding your child when they do right, you will be able to provide a clear message of “right and wrong”. Make it easy for them to determine the difference and they will strive to earn rewards. Remember, no two families will use the same parenting style, so work with this until it fits your specific needs.

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