Discipline - My Style

Wow, I can't believe we're already in September.  Although I have to say I'm thankful for the slightly cooler weather now.  I hope your still enjoying what's left of the summer holidays.

I was asked to write a series of How To... articles recently.  The idea is that the company gives me a title and I write an article for them.  I had 3 articles to complete this week.  The first two were no problem but the final one took a lot more though for me.  You see the title was HOW TO DISCIPINE CHILDREN.  I have to admit this is not an article title I wouyld ever have chosen myself but that's what it was and I needed to write an article. 
After several false starts I eventually wrote, what I conscider to be a great article.  Today I want to share a brief outline of "My style of discipline for children."

• Only you know what works in your family and what's important to you.
• Decide what is important and make them ground rules
• Let your children know what the ground rules are.  Be clear about what you want
• Be flexible (OCCASSIONALLY the ground rules can bend)
• Be fair
• Praise your child
• Lead by example (be a great role model)
• Make time for fun
• Make time to really listen

If your child does misbehave:

• Look at your own behaviour first.  Is your child reacting to your behaviour?
• Do they need something?  Food, drink, a hug, sleep...
• Tell them what you want and keep repeating/reminding.
• Find out why?  Sometimes your child will simply find what they are doing fun.  If it's not okay with you explain why.
• Say thank you for the behaviour you want
• No means No.  If you say no, then mean it and stick to it.
• Time out.  Time away from what they want to do in a safe place next to you, to calm down.
• Reminder of what you want
• ALWAYS treat your child with LOVE, KINDNESS and RESPECT

For me the last point is the most important.  Always treat your child with love, kindness and respect.  This is the way they learn to treat you, their friends and others they meet the same way.

I really hope you enjoy today's post.  As always please feel free to contact me on wendy@loaliving.com

Happy parenting

Wendy

P.S. I love to hear from you.  Please leave your comments below.  I always read them.

Press The Reset Button

Do you ever wish you had a reset button attatched to your kids?  In my home we all have a reset button.  Of course it's imaginary but we all know what it means when someone says "Press the reset button".

All of us are guilty of getting things out of proportion or behaving badly.  When Jack starts shouting and getting angry for no real reason I take hold of him and calmly say "You need to press the reset button".  He'll often march off to his room at this point but he comes out again in a much better mood. 

Pressing the reset button simply means changing your mood and thoughts so that they are positive and feel good.

The reset button is for everyone.  Jack is very keen to tell me when I need to press my reset button. 

Give it a go.  It works wonders.