Use ‘no’ sparingly—and other highly effective ways to discipline your kids

Teaching a young child good behavior seems like it should be easy and intuitive when, in reality, it can be a major challenge. When put to the test, it’s not as easy as you might think to dole out effective discipline, especially if you have a strong-willed child.

As young children develop independence and learn more about themselves in relation to others and their environment, they can easily grow frustrated when they don’t always know how to communicate their feelings or how to think and act rationally.

It’s crucial that parents recognize these limitations and also set up rules to protect your child and those they encounter. These rules, including a parent’s or caregiver’s follow-up actions, allow your child to learn and develop a better understanding of what is (and what is not) appropriate behavior.

Here are a few key ways to correct negative behavior in an efficient way:

1. Use positive reinforcement.

Whenever possible, look to deliver specific and positive praise when a child engages in good behavior or if you catch them in an act of kindness. Always focus on the positive things they are doing so that they are more apt to recreate those behaviors. This will help them start to learn the difference between good and poor behavior.

2. Be simple and direct.

Though this seems like a no-brainer, focus your child using constructive feedback versus what not to do or where they went wrong. Give reasons and explanations for rules, as best as you can for their age group.

For example, if you’re teaching them to be gentle with your pet, demonstrate the correct motions and tell your child, “We’re gentle when we pet the cat like this so that we don’t hurt them,” versus, “Don’t pull on her tail!”

3. Re-think the “time out.”

Many classrooms are starting to have cozy nooks where children are encouraged to have alone time when they may feel out of control. In lieu of punishment, sending a child to a “feel-good” area removes them from a situation that’s causing distress. This provides much-needed comfort and allows for the problem-solving process to start on its own.

4. Use ‘no’ sparingly.

When a word is repeated over and over, it begins to lose meaning. There are better ways to discipline your child than saying “no.” Think about replaying the message in a different way to increase the chances of your child taking note. Rather than shouting, “No, stop that!” when your toddler is flinging food at dinnertime, it’s more productive to use encouraging words that prompt better behavior, such as, “Food is for eating, what are we supposed to do when we’re sitting at the dinner table?” This encourages them to consider their behavior.

The above methods help create teachable moments by providing opportunities for development while making sure the child feels safe and cared for. It is important to mirror these discipline techniques at home and communicate often with your child care providers so that you’re always on the same page.

You might also like:

• 10 times your kid’s ‘bad behavior’ isn’t bad
• How to correct a child’s bad behavior with positive parenting
• 6 questions Montessori teachers ask when they want to change ‘bad’ behavior