How to Discipline an 18-Month-Old Child

Parents worry about disciplining children, often asking questions such as: Do I need to be firm? Am I doing a good job? Did I do something wrong? Setting goals and guidelines helps children learn good behavior, respect and politeness, and while disciplining a child begins at birth, it's never too late to start disciplining your child. There are four basic effective steps for discipline during early childhood development, and children who are 18-months-old need positive reinforcement, redirection, modeling and setting realistic expectations for the child's ability level. When a parent disciplines a child using these four steps of discipline, the parent develops a positive relationship with their child.

Things You'll Need

  • Love
  • Patience
  • Understanding

Instructions

    • 1

      Discipline the child with positive reinforcement. Talk to your child without a harsh tone, and use a pleasing voice. The child responds faster to positive reinforcement than negative reinforcement. For example: If the child is being good, praise her by saying, "You are doing a wonderful job." If the child is doing inappropriate behavior, don't praise him. Only praise the child for doing appropriate behavior. He will realize, when you do not respond to negative behavior, he cannot get your attention that way.

    • 2

      Redirect the child to an appropriate behavior. For example, if the child throws a toy car across the room. Let your child know that you're not pleased with that behavior by telling them. Say something like: "We don't throw things. You might hurt someone." Follow with "Lets play like this." Demonstrate to the child how to play with the car correctly. Redirecting the child's inappropriate behavior shows her the correct way of doing something.

    • 3

      Discipline the child with examples by modeling the way you want the child to behave. For example, squat down to eye level with your child and model the appropriate way to play with the toys or behave in any given situation. Children learn by mimicking what they see is going on around them.

    • 4

      Help your child develop his abilities, but don't push them. For example, when a baby begins walking, assisting the child is acceptable, but don't make the child run the following week. Babies develop their muscles, bones and minds at different rates.

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