3 Ways to Discipline Your Kids without Being the Bad Guy

“Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.”
― Plato

None of us mastered the art of parenting before we drove down to the parent-ville, which is why we sometimes fail at things we think we are doing the best. There is no plain sailing in parenting, especially when it comes to disciplining your children; you will always be struggling with new behavior changes and tantrums. Many parents utilize hard core methods of parenting that make their children cringe away from them. We all want to discipline our kids without being the bad guy. So to help you discipline your kids the easy way, I have assembled a little list of sure-fire ways that can help you strike without leaving a mark.

1. Be a Companion

Have you ever analyzed your parenting style? Parenting style matters a lot when it comes to taming a wild child. Children would rather listen to the friendly voice that tells them “it’s OK, try not to do such a thing in the future” in contrast to the voice that threatens them: “you do this again, you lose your gaming privileges”.
Choose a gentle tone to explain to your children the consequences of indulging in practices that are considered immoral or out of the line. Be as straightforward as possible. Let your children know about your troubles at work; share your everyday activities with them and hear about their day. When you know each other better, you bond well and develop trust. The better understanding you have with your children, the easier it will be to control their misdemeanor. For example, you can try to get to know your child more while accompanying him during his play around an outdoor playground equipment.
Children should be aware of what’s OK and what’s not through a well-structured discipline method. And, no, punishment and reward system is not one of those methods if that’s what you are thinking. Although punishment does work, but it leaves a negative impact. Avoid using incentives for good behavior; they cripple your child’s ability to control his demeanor in the long run. Instead, talk to them as a friend.

 

2. Find The Culprit

Do you remember the last time you accompanied your child to his favorite playground or took him to play with his favorite commercial playground equipment? Children crave parental attention. Tantrums and meltdowns are sometimes nothing but an attempt to garner your attention. You have to find out what’s bothering your child. It could be school problems or a fight with the sibling. There are a lot of reasons that can lead to ‘child stress,’ which eventually leads to bad behavior. So, find the cause and nip it in the bud.
Blaming your children without knowing the cause can lead to serious problems. Your children want you to understand what they are going through. Therefore, learn more about their problems before you sentence them to two weeks of no gaming.

3. Be respectable

Respect always equals respect. Therefore, be respectable to your children no matter how bad their conduct gets. Children can be impossible sometimes, but remember that they are only children; they don’t know better. Punishment can not only make their conduct worse, but can also make you lose your respect and love. Treating them the right way can strengthen your bond and allow you to tame the inner monster that triggers the bad behavior.
A polite message always impacts more than a harsh scold. Children might not listen right away, but eventually, they will understand how they are supposed to behave. Children are like delicate flowers that require careful nurturing. So, do not manhandle them; be patient and watch them blossom.