Kids need loving discipline

By Claudia Harrison

After love, discipline is the most important gift parents and caregivers can give their children. First 5 Ventura County realizes discipline can be a challenging job for parents and caregivers. Discipline is teaching, not punishing.

Through discipline, children can be taught how to set their own limits. If done positively, discipline can help build children’s self-esteem, teach them self-control and give them the tools they need for a happy, healthy life. First 5 Ventura County offers parents and caregivers the following tips to teach their children to age five how to set their own limits as they grow, based on information in the Kit for New Parents developed by First 5 California in partnership with leading experts:

Encourage exploration and curiosity but keep children safe. Parents and caregivers can provide a safe space for children to test limits by removing dangerous objects and securing areas that children are exploring.

Understand that every child is unique. Children learn at different paces and can react to situations and stress in different ways. Be patient.

Realize that tantrums are natural for toddlers. Tantrums may occur when a child feels out of control or is over stimulated.

Have routines. Babies and children need to sleep and eat at regular times.

Meet the baby’s needs. Babies cry when they are tired, hungry or need something. Try to figure out what is needed and respond in a loving way.

Keep children safe. Babies and small children are curious. Keep harmful things away from children.

Redirect a child’s attention. When a child performs unwanted behavior, help the child find something else to do. Tell a story, sing a song or give other toys.

Be sure to tell the child that he or she is loved, even when the child does something wrong. Explain that the child is doing something wrong.

Praise children. Telling children they have done something right makes them feel good about themselves.

Do not hit or hurt a child. Shaking, hitting or shouting at children does not help them learn. It teaches them that hitting is a way to deal with anger. Shaking a baby or young child can cause brain damage or death.

Discipline takes patience, care and understanding.

It is also one of the many valuable gifts parents give their children.

When done in a loving and consistent way, children learn to set their own limits by applying the lessons learned from their parents and caregivers to their own lives.

To find a local First 5 Ventura County Neighborhood for Learning, call (877) 543-7025 or visit www.first5ventura.org.

Harrison is the executive director of First 5 Ventura County.