Effective Discipline Tips

05/13/2003

"Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country."
– Anais Nin

EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE TIPS

The Australian state of Tasmania declared April 30 as "No Smacking Day." Tasmania's Commissioner for Children, Patmalar Ambikapathy, urged parents on this day to "consider breaking the habit of hitting children," and offered these "Ten Guidelines for Raising a Well-Behaved Child:"

1. Whenever possible, teach rather than punish. The goal of discipline is to teach children acceptable behaviour. Hitting children does not teach acceptable behaviour, it teaches children that "might makes right" and hitting is a way to solve problems.
2. View children's misbehaviour as a mistake in judgment. It will be easier to think of ways to teach more acceptable behaviour.
3. Whenever possible, make consequences relate to misbehaviour. If a child hurts someone's feelings, the child should apologize. If the child makes a mess, he/she should clean it up.
4. Have behaviour rules but make sure they are few in number, reasonable, and appropriate to the child's age and development.
5. Make sure that consequences for misbehaviour are reasonable and clear.
6. Don't argue or nag children about rules. If a rule is broken, remind the child of the rule and the consequence for not following the rule. When you give a command, speak in a firm voice and repeat the command only twice.
7. If your child has many behaviours which concern you, don't try to change all of them at once. Choose one behaviour of concern. Explain why the behaviour is a problem. Provide consequences for misbehaviour and praise the opposite behaviour when your child demonstrates it.
8. Distract infants and toddlers when they are doing something you don't like or remove them from the situation. Infants and toddlers do not understand right and wrong and should not be hit or shaken.
9. Use good manners when talking to children about their behaviour. Be sure to use "I'm sorry," "May I?" and "Excuse me" when they are appropriate. Be a good model for your children in your speech and actions.
10. Catch your child being good! Your praise or hug will increase appropriate behaviour.

Hobart, Tasmania will host the Biennial Conference of the Australian Early Childhood Association on July 10 - 13, 2003. For more information about World Forum Alliance member AECA and this conference, go to http://www.ccie.com/ECEorgs/wf_alliance.php#aeca

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.