Here’s some great advice on keeping it together with your grandchildren. Don’t…
- YELL, your screaming has zero effect on behavior (other than to teach a child that its okay for them to lose it too).
- OFFER EMPTY THREATS, if a child knows you won’t follow through, he/she won’t take you seriously.
- UNDERMIND YOUR PARTNER, openly disagreeing about discipline will confuse a kid and erode your authority.
- FAIL TO SET RULES, it’s not fair to punish a child for playing ball in the house if you didn’t tell him it was forbidden beforehand.
- BRIBE, Yeah…it works the first time. But eventually children will expect a reward every single time you request their cooperation.
- ARGUE ABOUT CONSEQUENCES, your discipline methods are not up for discussion, or negotiation. Period, the end.
- COMPARE, when you say, “why can’t you be more like your sister?” the implication is that the child isn’t fine the way he/she is.
- SPANK, research shows that striking a child makes him more aggressive, not better behaved.
- CAVE IN TO THE WHINING, standing firm now will make it less likely you’ll hear that annoying voice the next time he/she wants something.
- SET A BAD EXAMPLE; need to scold a child for fibbing? Fine. But then don’t let him catch you canceling plans due to your own phantom illness.
*Article reprinted from: PARENTS MAGAZINE, April 2013, page 110.
