How to Discipline Your Kids

If you struggle to maintain a peaceful household because your children are constantly fighting or refusing to obey you, you want to find the most effective way to discipline them without causing them psychological harm. WebMD reports that your responsibility as a parent is to help your child become respectful, self-reliant and self-controlled, and that you must not leave this responsibility to your child's school, church or health care worker. By being consistent, making a connection, clarifying the rules and ending the discussion, you will discipline your children effectively.

Instructions

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      Be consistent. Whichever way you choose to discipline your child, you must follow-through and resist changing your method. The KidsHealth website reports that consistency and follow-through is crucial to effective discipline because you risk undermining your authority if you say one thing and do another. Your child must believe that you mean what you say, and that if she acts a certain way, a predictable punishment will follow.

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      Make a connection. When your child does something that is against the rules, the first step to confronting him about his behavior is to connect with him. AskDrSears.com advises squatting to your child's eye level and looking him in the eyes, while ensuring he is paying attention. Address him by name and tell him you need him to focus. Resist making your eye contact too intense because that can come across as controlling instead of connecting.

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      Clarify the rules. Pediatrician James Sears, a doctor in Southern California, states on WebMD that your rules must not be vague because your child needs to know what to expect of you. If she deliberately went against your instructions, explain why what she did was wrong and what rule is in place to prohibit it. By explaining the rule and the reasoning behind it, you reinforce your expectations and guide your child to a solution.

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      End the discussion. After you have gotten down to your child's level and explained the rule that was broken, end the discussion and leave no room for arguments. AskDrSears.com states that if the matter is truly closed to discussion, you must let your child know so he does not challenge your authority. This will keep you from further arguments, and demonstrate that you meant what you said.

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