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No is not a dirty word

by Amy Hatch (Subscribe to Amy Hatch's posts)
Nov 4th 2008 5:01PM

4Comments

Filed under: Development: Toddlers & Preschoolers

pouting boyIt is so much easier to say "yes" -- or is it? Part of being a good parent is setting limits and doling out the discipline, but so often we find ourselves giving permission even when we shouldn't.

At least, I do. With a high-energy (and whip-smart) almost-4-year-old and a new baby at home, it is so much simpler to say yes. Yes, you can watch TV. Yes, you can have a cookie. Yes, you can hold my laptop hostage for three hours while you play games on noggin.com. All to avoid the battle.

No parent wants to be a push-over. And it turns out that kids crave order and boundaries. But how do you set -- and enforce -- healthy rules while also keeping the peace?

The art of diversion: Know what sets your kid off. Does walking by the ice cream shop start the whining? Cross to the other side of the street. You know the triggers, just figure out how to avoid them.

Be generous with praise: I try to catch my kids in the act of being good. Did your child remember to say "thank you?" Tell them you are proud of them.

Set the rules, and stick to them: Kids need structure, and helping them understand what is expected of them goes a long way to avoiding the dreaded tantrum. Be consistent; no one wants to be known as The Enforcer, but you have to stick to your guns.

Consistent consequences: If you make a threat, you have to follow through on it. If your kid is misbehaving in public and you threaten them with going home, be ready to go home if they don't comply.

Don't debate: It isn't a negotiation. Don't get sucked into a debate. The answer is yes or no.

Punishments that fit the crime: A time-out should be deserved. If there is a real violation of the rules, send the offender to the naughty chair, corner or their room for an age-appropriate amount of time. A good rule of thumb is number of minutes per age. My daughter is 3, so she gets three minutes in the naughty chair. And you know what? When I tell her to go and sit there, she does.

Last but not least? Remember, "no" is not a dirty word.

So what about you? Are you a softie like me, or do you set a hard line?

Tags: behavior, discipline, kids, parenting, parenting skills, ParentingSkills, rules

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