X
TAP top app download banner
theAsianparent Singapore Logo
theAsianparent Singapore Logo
Product Guide
Sign in
  • Together Against RSV
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • Events
  • Holiday Hub
  • Aptamil
    • Immunity
    • Intelligence
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • VIP

Should Discipline Start Early?

5 min read
Should Discipline Start Early?

Can early discipline be a good thing for your children? Find out here, including information on how to prevent a tantrum...

Your little one is born with no preconceived knowledge or understanding of rules or discipline.

For them, there are no rules to bend, fewer to breach and a quite a lot of them to disregard, since societal norms don’t play a factor into their tiny lives till they are much older.

So naturally parents, particularly, first-timers, wonder when should they begin to step in and start that thorny journey of instilling what is right and good for their youngster.

Starting young

Should Discipline Start Early?

Start gentle discipline when your child is young. | Image source: iStock

For most babies, the word ‘no’ carries a lot of weight. It’s short and sweet. Said in the right tone, the word ‘no’ could very well function as your baby’s first brush with discipline.

When a baby is very young, it’s pointless trying to implement complex disciplinary measures. Instead, when he is trying to do something you don’t approve of, like poke his finger in a plug-point, simply say “No” and switch his attention to something more positive and not so dangerous.

This will have a gentle but direct impact on their learning.

Don’t get caught up in the moment and rant or shout. It won’t have much effect on a little person who can barely utter a word. The best thing is to gently reinforce that their action be switched to a positive experience.

Remember, always stay calm and move on.

Be gentle but firm

Should Discipline Start Early?

Try not to let your family and friends influence how you decide to discipline your child. | Image Source: iStock

When setting up boundaries and disciplinary measures for babies and toddlers, it’s best to stick with just a little bit of structure. A little structure that is enforced gradually will enable them to understand quickly what is wrong and what is acceptable.

Failing to give them a gentle push as to what is right and what is not could leave you trying to manage an unruly child in the future,  and with your discipline strategy in a spin.

You family and friends may try to advise you on when you should start disciplining your baby,  but the decision is yours and yours alone.

But do remember, it’s never too early to start gentle discipline because your child is more than likely to realize and learn early what is acceptable.

For example, when your baby starts crawling/ walking, their natural curiosity will have them trying to touch your beautiful vase, or explore the balcony.

Rather than shouting at your baby when he attempts this, place that vase in a spot your baby cannot reach, and block the entrance to the balcony. This is a gentle way of showing him where not to go and what not to touch. 

Preventing with tantrums

Should Discipline Start Early?

Try not to let your family and friends influence how you decide to discipline your child. | Image source: iStock

Between their 1st and 2nd years (and beyond!), most kids would have thrown at least one tantrum. It can be very overwhelming for especially a first-time parent to deal with a full-blown tantrum, especially if it is in a public place.

If you’d like to know how to avoid bringing on a tantrum in the first place, here are some useful tips to keep in mind:

– Affirm and redirect: It’s almost bed-time when you hear a little voice demand “Park”! Without saying “not right now” and setting off a tantrum, affirm what your child is saying while at the same time steering her away from it.

For example, you could say, “You like going to the park, don’t you? Remember how you played with that little boy this afternoon?” It’s still about the park this way, but you should be able to steer the conversation in a different direction and prevent that tantrum.

– Bring on the toys: If you sense an impending tantrum when it’s time for your 2-year-old’s bath, suggest he take Bob the Builder (or any other water-proof toy!) with him. This should make bath-time fun for the little one, and help you stop that bath-time tantrum.

Partner Stories
Mom, Is Your Baby's Mouth Ulcer Keeping You Up at Night?
Mom, Is Your Baby's Mouth Ulcer Keeping You Up at Night?
Preschool Education is Not as Easy as A-B-C! Here’s What Your Child Really Learns and Why It’s Important!
Preschool Education is Not as Easy as A-B-C! Here’s What Your Child Really Learns and Why It’s Important!
New Parents Guide: Essential Tips for Managing Newborn Diaper Changes Like a Pro
New Parents Guide: Essential Tips for Managing Newborn Diaper Changes Like a Pro
Is Your Child’s Car Seat Still Safe? The EU Standard That Just Expired—and What It Means for You
Is Your Child’s Car Seat Still Safe? The EU Standard That Just Expired—and What It Means for You

– Be matter-of-fact: Sometimes, just stating the rule clearly works. Make sure you use a calm but firm voice to state your rules: No books in the bathtub, no shoes in bed, we don’t play with Mummy’s jewellery, etc.

– Look ahead: If you know that leaving the playground is going to cause your 2-year-old to have a meltdown, look for opportunities that you can use as an escape route.

So when it’s close to the time you need to leave and you see someone walking their dog, try telling your little one, “Let’s go see if we can say hi to the doggy over there.” You should be able to leave the playground with minimum fuss this way.

We hope this article has been useful to you. Do share your tips on disciplining your young child with us by leaving a comment.

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

8288yan

  • Home
  • /
  • Ages & Stages
  • /
  • Should Discipline Start Early?
Share:
  • Ask the Expert: How to Support Your Child’s Musical Journey

    Ask the Expert: How to Support Your Child’s Musical Journey

  • Ask The Expert: ADHD Awareness – Spotting Early Signs in Kids

    Ask The Expert: ADHD Awareness – Spotting Early Signs in Kids

  • Unlock Your Child's Potential: The Neuroscience of Reading Aloud

    Unlock Your Child's Potential: The Neuroscience of Reading Aloud

  • Ask the Expert: How to Support Your Child’s Musical Journey

    Ask the Expert: How to Support Your Child’s Musical Journey

  • Ask The Expert: ADHD Awareness – Spotting Early Signs in Kids

    Ask The Expert: ADHD Awareness – Spotting Early Signs in Kids

  • Unlock Your Child's Potential: The Neuroscience of Reading Aloud

    Unlock Your Child's Potential: The Neuroscience of Reading Aloud

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
  • Family Occasions
  • Lifestyle
  • Normal Delivery
  • Ages & Stages
  • Trying To Conceive
  • News
  • TAP Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
© Copyright theAsianparent 2025. All rights reserved
About Us|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it