Daily Tips for Families

Today's Tip for Families

08-24-2022

Plan Discipline Strategies Before You Need Them

No child behaves perfectly all the time. But good behavior at school makes it easier for everyone to learn. To encourage it, decide in advance how you will handle discipline issues with your child. Explain the rules and consequences before you have to enforce them. Then, give new techniques a chance to work.

Try these effective discipline strategies:

Distraction. When your child gets too annoyed with a sibling, for instance, you might suggest, "Why don't you and Dad play catch? It's beautiful out."
Natural consequences. Let your child experience the natural results of actions. A child who doesn't get ready to go, for example, will be late for the fun. Sometimes reminders prevent problems: "Put on your coat now or we'll miss the show."
Logical consequences. Misbehavior doesn't always have a natural consequence. Then it helps to assign a consequence that logically relates to the misbehavior. A child who refuses to get ready for bed, for example, might have to go to bed earlier the next night.
Rewards. When you want to see behavior changes—have your child pick up belongings rather than leaving them on the floor, for example—explain the behavior you want and reward your child with specific praise for doing it right. "You put away all your clothes and toys. Great job!" Occasionally, treats can provide motivation: "When you have picked up, we can go out for pizza." The treats should be given only after the desired behavior happens.

Brought to you by:

Gwinnett County Public Schools