7 Ways Teach Self-Discipline Skills to kids

Discipline is not about punishment; it is about teaching responsibility and respect! 

Self-discipline is one of the most crucial quality a child needs to develop from an early stage. It is unarguably an important ingredient for a child’s yummy and scrumptious future. 

However, discipline isn’t about being way too serious or finding faults or shouting and screaming. It’s an approach which involves many aspects and the only way to do it is by you the parent or teacher becoming what you advocate being self-disciplined. Remember children never listen to what to say but they are very smart to grasp and pick up what you do. 

Below are 7 ways to introduce, inculcate positive discipline in your little one:

1. Making a schedule:

Having a clear routine in the form of a colourful chart or written on a board which contains all activities from wake-up time to morning chores to bedtime chores. Routine chart helps the child to structure and have a planned day. Children feel confident and secure when their day-to-day activities are familiar to them. Children feel confident and secure when their day-to-day activities are familiar to them. It inculcates a sense of control and sense of time by auto. It also encourages them to be independent resulting in positive discipline.

2. Rewards: 

Recognising and rewarding your child when he/she does a good job, maintains and follows what you have asked them to do is a positive reinforcement for the child. Rewards give them validation, increases motivation and encourages them to continue the good work. It helps them to build new habits on their own as they feel good that their parents recognise and reward them. When your child asks you for example a play station or some game or some toy, give them a task ask them to do it 100% and as a reward give them what they ask for. This inculcates a sense of achievement in a child and he/she learns early on that nothing is free, when they work for it only they receive it. 

Also Read: Extracurricular activities to engage your child

3. Punishments:

It is often seen that punishments discourage a child and it effects their growth in many ways. Any form of physical punishments like slapping, hitting or verbal punishments like scolding or shouting are seen to have more of a negative impact than a positive impact on a child. However, children must be made aware of what is acceptable and what is not in school and home environments. Effective discipline doesn’t mean you make the child feel guilt or shame them or embarrass them. Instead listen to them, talk it out, this builds a sense of trust and belief in them. You can use the technique of “time out” which is much more effective. Making sure not to go overboard with it.

4. Giving them a yes day:

A yes day is a day where parents say yes to what the child asks, but of course with a limit. This empowers children as they feel heard and understood. It develops a sense of self-esteem. Helps in building communication and negotiation skills in a healthy and protected environment. Encourages them to think out of the box and develop problem solving skills. You can encourage discipline in a child by saying you can do that on the yes day and do your chore or study today. This makes it a give and take relationship and they will love you as a parent as you are strict but also you are allowing them to have fun. It’s a great step forward in the direction of positive parenting.

5. Set Limits:

Clear limits must be there between the child and you. These must be communicated in a cordial and easy to understand manner for the child. Knowing clear limits helps the child to draw his/her line and not go overboard. This helps them to be responsible and know the consequences of their actions. As a parent you will have to be consistent with the limits and rule. But, be flexible as they may need changes according to the situation. Discipline parenting teaches the child what families core values are, help them to be empathetic and be considerate towards others. 

6. Give them a listening ear: 

Listening to your child helps them to express their feelings, emotions, know how to voice their opinions which gives them a sense of trust which in turn helps in positive discipline. Listening to them you will also know what they are going through or facing. Sometimes, when we as parents or educators don’t give the young ones a listening ear they feel abandoned and will not share unpleasant things or something important as well. Lastly, listening to the child helps them to share or vent out anything that is going on in their life and that helps in feeling happy, light and loved. 

7. When not to respond or react:

There are many situations and times where we as parents or educators may lose our cool and react to the child. This proves to be a danger situation as the child tends to do it more just for us to react. Not paying attention when a child is making a repeated mistake and being indifferent will teach him or her by auto what wrong they are doing. By this they learn to correct themselves over a period of time. By not reacting we don’t encourage the wrong behaviour there. However, recognise the good deeds and be mindful of not reacting during the bad deeds. 

Positive impacts of disciplined parenting: 

1. Discipline helps children to become emotionally stable, socially matured. 

2. It helps them to know how to behave where, set boundaries and not go off limits.

3. Being disciplined a child learns to be responsible by auto and knows the consequences of their actions.

4. Discipline helps a child to do well academically and also in their extra curriculars. 

5. It boosts a child’s confidence making them bold and strong individuals.

6. It teaches them to cope with stress in healthy ways.

7. With positive discipline child learns how to behave in a socially acceptable manner and not in a forceful way.

8. Children learn how to manage their time in a effective manner.

9. It helps them to build healthy habits and increases resilience.

10. It helps them become a strong personality since childhood which will help them to navigate the ups and downs of life as they grow up.

Also Read: DIY crafting activities to involve your child

Discipline encourages a child to grow in a holistic manner with which they will be able to flower and succeed both academically and otherwise. It helps them to respect authority, follow rules and have a structured routine. Discipline helps a child to develop social skills and become a effective communicator and express himself/herself clearly. With tools like positive reinforcement, setting routines, having clear boundaries and grooming the young minds they will become respected citizens of tomorrow. 

Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.

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