Discovery Health :: Parenting: Discipline and Limit Setting

Kids and Discipline

	Parenting: Discipline and Limit Setting (con't) By Merri Wallace Use distraction. If a child is throwing his toy cars around, take out his building blocks and engage him in this new activity. Remove your child from problematic situations. For instance, if your 11-month-old keeps crawling toward the stove, pick her up and take her into another room. If she is hitting you when she is in your arms, put her down on the floor and give her something to do. Give your child explanations for your limits. If your child reaches for your coffee cup tell him, "You mustn't touch. The coffee is hot." Children cooperate more readily if you give them reasons. Minimize the use of sentences that begin with "Don't" or "Stop." These words often act as a green light for children to fight you. They need to assert their independence. Find other phrases to use instead. Rather than saying, "Don't throw those books," tell your 2 1/2-year-old, "The books need to stay on the shelf." Avoid saying "no" immediately. This word frequently triggers tantrums. If your youngster asks for a cookie, instead of saying, "no," you can tell her, "You can have a cookie after dinner." Channel your child's negative behavior to positive actions. "The walls are not for drawing on. You need to draw on paper." Plan ahead. Bring along toys or healthy snacks for long car trips or a visit to the doctor to keep your kids busy. Be patient. It takes children a long time to learn the rules. You will have to repeat them over and over again. And remember, sometimes kids can say the rules long before they can actually follow them.

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