Parenting Advice: Discipline and Positive Reinforcement - the RIGHT Way

The important thing about establishing discipline is to remain consistent in your speech, your actions and your attitudes. Most importantly, you need to follow up with action what you assert with words. If you are not consistent, you send confused signals to the child. Then you can't blame him for not obeying you. How can he abide by your wishes, if he doesn't even know what you want him to do?

You can't afford to neglect child discipline; but punishment tactics should be avoided as far as possible; they don't work. Try a reward system instead. Rewards don't have to be tangible; a nod of approval, a word of praise and a warm hug can work wonders. You can encourage positive children's behavior by positive reinforcement. It makes you and your child feel good. And, it saves time on the yelling.

Don't know where to start with establishing a reward system? Here are some parenting help steps to help you get started.

* Parents should sit down and discuss discipline problems threadbare. Together you should set up a list of child behavior actions and rewards, for example, cleaning up the bedroom without having to be reminded means an extra hour of TV on the weekend.

* Once you have clarity on behavior actions and rewards, you should explain the system to the children. You'll be surprised that even very small children respond to rewards. It's a good idea to actively engage the older children in this type of routine change; it will ensure better implementation and the system will run smoothly and many child behavior problems will be avoided. It will give them a sense of achievement and participation in the household decision making process.

* It is most important that you follow through and keep a record. Keeping track of a lot of activities can be hard to do. Use the chart to keep track of where each child stands. This is also a visual reinforcement.

Following these three steps will help you get started in establishing a reward-based child discipline system in your home to help make sure things get done. By rewarding good child behavior and the accomplishment of child discipline tasks, you set a positive foundation for self-esteem.

About the Author

Child Behavior Problems can be solved! To discover the secret, visit author Dr. Swanson's Child Behavior Problems website and take a look at his acclaimed manual, The GOOD CHILD Guide.