How to Discipline a Toddler

Toddlers are the light of our eyes because they're innocent to the unknown of the world. Parenting toddlers is often a road that is challenging and very rewarding. If you're a parent to a young child you will be challenged not only as the child is a toddler, but as they grow up through their teens.

The foundation of toddler discipline starts with you at home teaching your child right from wrong. As your child turns two they start to take on their own expressions and feelings such as the dreaded toddler tantrums where they try to manipulate you as a parent to respond in a way that they want. Toddler tantrums come in many forms such as crying, throwing things, biting, getting into things that you've warned them about and being sassy in their responses to you.

Disciplining for toddlers can be effective as long as you keep your cool and don't show much emotion when you're teaching them right from wrong. A common discipline technique for toddlers is putting them in time out when they do something that is unacceptable. If you use this form of discipline you must be consistent every day. You can't use this technique and then let them slide the next day because they will learn to manipulate your authority.

As much as you want to let your toddler slide for doing something that requires discipline and you don't enforce your punishment they'll continue to rebel and their behavior may get worse as they grow older. Deciding what to discipline your child over is your choice, but whatever it is you have to be consistent and don't let it slide. This way a foundation is built upon the toddler's memory and they know what the punishment is every time they do it.

Some parents think that toddler discipline is enforced too much. However, if you don't control it now you'll have a very hard time in the future as they continue to grow. That's why it's important to decide on what is right and wrong in your household. Don't listen to other people on what's right and wrong that's your freewill decision and you must live with the outcomes.

Now for some effective methods of disciplining a toddler such as the time out solution where if they do something you make them sit still somewhere without talking or crying and absolutely no playing with any toys while in timeout. Once the toddler tantrum subsides sit with them and explain what they did and why that's unacceptable. Don't scream or show any emotion during the conversation. Make them look at you in the eye when you're talking.

Another common form of discipline for toddlers is spanking their bottoms or hands depending on what they did. Some people think that this is not an effective way to punish a child. My view is that it gets their attention and as long as you explain to them why their getting a spanking then its effective. Don't spank your child to hurt them, but to let them know you're there and that they did something unacceptable. Don't console your child after a spanking because it makes them wonder why you spanked them and now you're loving on them. Give them a few minutes to collect their thoughts and to calm down. Then by all means after a few minutes hold them and love on them. While doing this explain to them again why you spanked them and that they must follow the rules of the house.

One of the greatest punishments that parents have in their toolbox is taking away items that the child likes if they break a rule and requires discipline. This used with time out or spanking is effective, but the key is to explain to your toddler why they're in trouble.

One last word of advice is don't scream or use inappropriate language to your child when they do something wrong. Be firm in your discipline techniques and consistent. Remember, you have to teach them from right and wrong. Enjoy your child because before you know it they'll be grown up and you'll be wondering where time has gone.