5 Ways to Discipline Your Child Without Punishment

 

Punishing your children can build bridges and gaps when it comes to parents. However, it is important to discipline your child and guide them into adjusting their behavior. So, how can that be done without punishment? Positive parenting has shown to be a lot more effective with children and raising them into becoming the best possible versions of themselves.

 

Here are 5 ways to discipline your child without resorting to punishment:

 

• Be a role model
• Say yes
• keep calm
• offer alternatives
• Empathize

 

Be a role model

Your child will always follow your lead and look up to you as a role model. If you scream, they will scream. If you practice what you preach, your children will eventually pick up what you’re trying to teach them just by copying you.

 

Say YES

Saying No to children automatically makes them rebel. However, using a positive approach will really help your child learn from their mistakes and be willing to listen, follow your lead, and make amends. For example, instead of saying “No, you won’t get a treat until you’ve tidied up your room.” You can start by saying, “Yes, of course you can have a cookie, but let’s pick up your toys first. And YES, I will help you.” This positive approach can be very effective and will help you build a great relationship without having to punish them.

 

Keep calm

It’s very easy to lose your temper when your kid does something that drives you nuts or dangerous. However, one of the most effective ways to discipline your child without punishment is by keeping calm. The calm tone of voice and bringing yourself down to your child’s eye level help them resonate more with what you’re trying to say.

 

Offer an alternative

When you want your child to switch off the TV or clean up the mess they’ve made, instead of sending them to their room or punishing them for what they’ve done, you can try offering an alternative. For example, you can tell your child to come and read with you or do an interesting activity that will make them want to switch off the TV. You can tell them to pick up all the blue toys and you’ll pick up all the green ones to make cleaning up more fun.

 

Empathize

Usually anger, tantrums, or misbehavior come from an underlying issue. This could be exhaustion, not getting enough sleep, hunger, being bullied, or many other reasons. Making your child understand that you know how they feel and why they acted that way will make them calm down and transform their behavior in an instant. You should also find the root of the problem and address it.

 

Further reading: How to raise an Unentitled and Modest Rich Kid