Parenting can often feel like a balancing act between showing love, setting boundaries, and managing day-to-day challenges. But with so much parenting advice out there, it’s hard to know what really works. Research offers a wealth of evidence-based strategies to help guide parents through discipline with confidence. Here’s a quick look at six effective, research-backed discipline strategies to try with your child.
Behavioral Momentum
This strategy involves starting with easy tasks before asking your child to do something harder. Think of it as building up momentum for following directions. For example, you might say, “Can you pick up your toys?” before asking them to get ready for bed. It’s like the game “Simon Says,” where once children start following a simple direction, they’re more likely to keep going. This method works even better if you praise them as soon as they comply.
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Differential Reinforcement
This technique focuses on reinforcing positive behaviours while ignoring negative ones. For instance, if your child tends to whine when asking for something, instead of giving in, try rewarding them when they use a calm voice. Over time, this helps children replace unwanted behaviours with more desirable ones, such as asking politely instead of whining or hitting.
Give Choices
Children thrive when they feel in control of their decisions. Giving your child a choice between two options can help them feel empowered and make them more likely to follow through. For example, you could say, “Do you want to wear your blue or red shirt?” or “Would you like to brush your teeth before or after dinner?” Giving choices can reduce resistance and improve mood, motivation, and confidence.
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Emotion Socialisation
Teaching your child to understand and express their emotions is crucial for both their emotional development and their behaviour. By labelling emotions (“You seem frustrated”) and validating them (“I can understand why you’re upset”), you help your child regulate their feelings. Asking your child about their emotions or pointing out emotions in others can also foster empathy and self-awareness.
Precorrection
Before heading into situations where you expect challenging behaviours—like a trip to the grocery store—remind your child of the rules. You could say, “At the store, we walk, not run, and we stay close to the cart.” This simple strategy prevents misbehaviours by setting clear expectations and can make it easier for your child to follow rules in new settings.
Prompting
This step-by-step teaching method helps your child learn new skills, such as putting on their own shoes or saying “thank you.” Start by physically guiding them, then gradually reduce your help until they can do it on their own. This approach builds confidence and promotes independence while still providing the necessary support to succeed.
These six research-backed strategies can be a great starting point for parents looking for practical ways to guide their children’s behaviour. Remember, it may take some time to figure out which techniques work best for your unique child and family. If you’re curious to learn more about discipline strategies or need tips on what doesn’t work, feel free to reach out for more insights.
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Positive Discipline: Correcting Your Child By Establishing Connection and Encouragement
