At any Cuddles Childcare Centre in the Perth area, drama-free child discipline is a firm standard. When there are a lot of children in one place, the last thing needed is drama. A small amount will happen anyway because children will be children, but it is important to know how not to cause it or add to it once it is happening.
We would like to provide three great tips that can make it easier to discipline your child without drama.
Don’t Offer a Choice
Often, a parent will make a request in the form of a question, such as, “Do you want to eat lunch now,” thinking the child will say yes. This gives the child the opportunity to say, “no.” This is asking for trouble. When the child says “no,” you are then in the position of having to convince them to say “yes” or to make them do something they just said “no” to.
The best alternative is to transition your child to the desired activity. For example, you can lead your child to the lunch table while talking about whatever they were just doing, sit them at the table and say, “It’s time for lunch.”
Don’t Give Too Many Warnings
Too many “gloom and doom” scenarios can cause a lot of trauma for a toddler. While you want your child to know they can be hit by a car if they go in the street by themselves, you don’t want to fill your child’s head with negativity. A two or three year-old shouldn’t be worried about so much minutiae and doomsday scenarios as consequences of ordinary behaviour that they become afraid to do anything.
Don’t Give Too Many Explanations
Children love to ask, “Why.” It is what they do. But answering every “why” or giving an explanation for everything can turn into a marathon. Children have to learn when they need to comply without explanation.
Contact the Cuddles Childcare Centre nearest your Perth suburb to learn more.