There are simple mistakes that cannot be avoided especially when it comes to discipline. Like it or not, most things are trial and error but to avoid more errors, check out the common discipline mistakes most parents make.
No matter how hard you try, there are just times that your disciplinary efforts unexplainably backfire. However, you still need to establish the rules and following the basic principles of discipline can prevent you from making a lot of mistakes. Collected from Parenting and Popsugar, we give you five common discipline mistakes that even smart parents make:
1. Tell a Lie
As tempting as this can be, your lie will catch up with you soon. To save face or avoid awkward explanations to your kid or to others, avoid lying as much as possible. According to Bonnie Maslin, author of "Picking Your Battles", it is best to honest. A little empathy while explaining may make it more acceptable to your little one.
2. Giving In/Inconsistency
Stating a consequence for a bad behavior should be followed through. Saying the consequence will not just solve the behavior. "Repeatedly saying 'If you don't stop throwing sand, I'm going to make you leave the sandbox' won't stop the bad behavior," says Bridget Barnes, co-author of "Common Sense Parenting for Toddlers and Preschoolers."
It is recommended that after the first warning if the child continues the bad behavior, carry through the consequence such as a time-out. Next time, a gentle reminder should be enough. Being consistent, in your rules and in your warning, should also make your life easier later on.
3. Break Your Own Rules
In line with being consistent, you should also follow the rules. Kids are a great mimic and will do anything and everything that you do. So when you display bad behavior, they have high chances of also doing the same.
More so, if kids catch you breaking the rules they will surely call you out with that. And you don't want that to happen.
4. Talk Endlessly
Sometimes, parents just forget that they are talking to children. They launch to long explanations that kids just find tiresome. "Kids are not mini-adults," says Barnes. "Long explanations or instructions go right over their heads." Just keep it simple and sweet, make sure that your words are also child-friendly too.
5. Yelling and Losing It
Admittedly, being a parent takes a lot of patience and discipline. There are times that you are about to lose it, but it is never a good idea to yell or scream to your kids. This time, time-out should work for you too. You mag go to another room if you need to. If you can't leave your kid alone, both of you should go to a different place where you can both be calm.
In trying to discipline your kids, always be consistent with the rules and follow through your words. For more discipline hacks, check out the video below:
