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5 Discipline Options

Wouldn’t it be great if effective discipline was one-size-fits-all? Unfortunately, each child is unique, and the type of correction that she responds to best likely will be, too. Here are some of the most commonly used methods, along with tips for which type of child they are most likely to help, and how to make the method work.

1. Time-out.

This is a popular discipline technique for younger children who simply need to calm down and have a moment to think about the rule that’s been broken, and how breaking that rule did not achieve the result he was after.

  • Works best for: a child whose temper or emotions are out of control, and who needs to be calmed before any type of constructive conversation can take place.
  • Tips for success: make the length of the time out reasonable for your child’s age. A 2-year-old won’t even remember in 10 minutes what she was doing that resulted in the time out, so keep it short and get back to talking about the rules and the consequences. Many experts recommend one minute in time out for every year of the child’s age (3-year-old: 3-minute time-out).

2.   Restricting privileges.

Also known as “hit ‘em where they live.” If your child lives to play video games, then losing that privilege for a week for failing to turn in homework can be an effective way to get his attention. The same principle can apply to cell phone use, TV time, participation in extra-curricular activities, etc.

  • Works best for: the child who values a specific privilege highly, and whose respect for parental expectations can be addressed by leveraging that activity.
  • Tips for success: set the stage for this scenario by making it known ahead of time that the privilege in question is just that—a privilege, not a right—and that respect and obedience will be required to keep it.

3. Spanking.

Yes, we said the s-word. We know parents have strong feelings both for and against this type of discipline, but for some children it is effective when nothing else is. The key to successful spanking is knowing how and when to apply it.

  • Works best for: children who seem totally content to be in time-out for the rest of their lives, or who fail to respond to other types of correction most of the time.
  • Tips for success: Never spank your child when you’re angry or upset. Wait until you’ve calmed down from the situation at hand so that when you spank you are acting rather than reacting. Explain to your child that this will be the consequence of certain behaviors, and remind her of the reason for the discipline before you administer the spanking. Spank your child only on the behind, and let this only be one of the methods of correction in your bag—not the sum total of your discipline strategy.

4.  Social Restriction.

This involves taking away your child’s social outlets and chances for interaction with friends.

  • Works best for: the social butterfly (often tween or teen girls) who values time with friends and communicating non-stop as much as oxygen.
  • Tips for success: Like all types of discipline, lay out this consequence as a possibility before rules are broken. Give the social isolation specific parameters and a finite length of time which is reasonable. For example, it may mean no phoning or texting of friends for a period of time, or no friends over to hang out, or both. Be specific and stick to the plan, no matter how hard it is or how much she pouts. When the social privileges are returned, your child will likely work harder to keep them.

5. Extra chores.

Some children will do anything to reduce the amount of manual labor in their lives, including obey their parents. If this is your child, a few extra jobs around the house might be a good reminder when they get off-track.

  • Works best for: the child who really doesn’t like chores, and doesn’t value any particular privilege enough to miss it.
  • Tips for success: This can be a very effective tool for correcting the child who shirks his normal household responsibilities. The idea is, “when you fail to do your fair share it causes other members of the family to have to work harder—this week you’re going to see what that feels like…” Make sure the chores are age and skill-level appropriate.

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