| For military parents, "Parenting can be challenging" | | | | understand any part of the story, ask for clarification. |
| doesn't even scratch the surface when it comes to | | | | The important thing here is to stay calm and |
| daily struggles with discipline. Raising a child requires | | | | remember that accidents sometimes do happen. |
| many types of parenting skills. Perhaps the most | | | | Consider everything before judgment.o Be Fair |
| important, is to train and educate a child to become | | | | Effective child discipline is fair. It is important that any |
| responsible and to learn appropriate ways to behave. | | | | consequence of a child's poor behavior be fair. The |
| We call it discipline, but in it's raw form, it is simply our | | | | consequence of the child's actions should be related to |
| reactions to our children's choices. | | | | the incident and at the same time not be too harsh or |
| Here are my top 4 tips for military parents when | | | | not harsh enough.o Give Choices! |
| disciplining your child:o Be Positive! | | | | Strong military parents will use this technique when |
| Positive discipline is the art of making sure that you are | | | | disciplining their child, especially for older children |
| disciplining the behavior and not the child. What you | | | | (preschool and older). You as the parent must come |
| want to avoid here is the urge to say hurtful and | | | | up with 2 or 3 choices you are comfortable with, but |
| negative things such as "You're stupid" or "You always | | | | allow your child to pick which punishment they are to |
| mess that up!" Instead, say to your child "I wish you | | | | receive. Remember that we are not talking about |
| would have asked me before you did that" or "I'm | | | | giving the choice of a belt or a switch here (physical |
| really upset that the milk got all over the rug". Keep the | | | | abuse of any kind is never o.k. as a form of |
| negative comments about the resulting aftermath or | | | | punishment) but rather, "do you want to lose TV time |
| behavior and not the child.o Make sure you understand | | | | for a day or computer time?" By giving your child |
| the situation and factors of the incident | | | | choices about what they are to do, your child will play |
| As military parents, we won't always be there for our | | | | a role in their own discipline process, and will be more |
| children. When we can and are able to be there, we | | | | likely to respect the punishment and see it through. |
| need to remain calm and hear the whole story before | | | | Military parents can discourage the need for discipline |
| acting on our initial perception of a given situation. Take | | | | in the future by giving choices for as many aspects of |
| a moment and always get your child's version of what | | | | daily routine as they can. Children appreciate the |
| happened. Ask questions like "What happened?" and | | | | opportunity to make decisions and in giving them that |
| let them give you their whole side of it. If you do not | | | | opportunity, it will have a positive effect. |