How do you deal with that temper tantrum your child displays in Wal Mart? Do you want to crawl under the table while your little angel is being obnoxious when the family is dining out? What do you do when he is misbehaving and is oblivious to your threats of punishment? There are tactics you can employ when your child is consistently disobedient.
First and foremost, use discipline sensibly. Whatever method of punishment you choose, remember to enforce it firmly and dependably. Consistency is the cornerstone of discipline. Displaying overprotective tendencies by letting bad behavior go unpunished, never helps your child learn the difference in right and wrong.
Consider age and developmental level. Be realistic in your expectations. Consequences should be appropriate to your child’s degree of comprehension and maturity level.
Reprimand with respect. Yelling and name calling only confuse your child and build resentment. Don’t let anger control your decisions. In order to keep your child’s attention and insure he understands the purpose of the consequence, it is important to calmly and logically explain why he is being punished.
Use predictable consequences and follow through. By keeping the same rules in place, you teach your child what to expect in the way of penalties for certain behaviors. Make sure your rules are reasonable.
Pick your battles. Depending on the degree of your child’s disability, sometimes it is appropriate to ignore the small issues and focus on the bigger problem. Teaching one lesson at a time keeps confusion at a lower level.
Reinforce good behavior. It is important to remember to congratulate your child when he behaves well. Children love to be praised by a parent. When appropriately done, your child is encouraged to continue his good behavior.
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