DO’s
- Improve your child’s self perception. Speak positive words to him or her and give positive reports on a job well done.
- Get your child’s attention by calling him or her over to you for face – face discussions. Then give him or her instructions.
- Allow children the opportunity to express themselves and tell their side of the story.
- Take some time to calm down if you are upset about your child’s behavior.
- Administer discipline where necessary in private.
- Select and implement age appropriate punishment for your child.
DON’Ts
- Scream out directives at your child from another part of the house.
- Belittle, name – call or make unfavorable comparisons. Example
“You are just like……..”
“You are stupid………”
- Punish physically especially when you are angry. In your rage you might unwittingly injure your child severely.
- Laugh off or ignore it when your child misbehaves publicly or uses profanity.
- Feel that because you were spanked or hit by your parents that it is the only acceptable form of punishment.
- Scream at your child. They would become immune to it.
- Let a timeout extend a minute beyond the child’s age. Example: five minutes of timeout for a five year old, seven minutes of timeout for a seven year old….etc.
- Spank your child to the extent that he or she has bruises. If you must, spank only enough to drive home the message that what was done (or not done) is wrong.
- Carry out frustration on your child when he or she does wrong. Remember he or she is a child and is learning.
