Discipline
Lots of focus goes into the timing and mechanics of having children. Many folks forget to plan ahead for other important decisions like discipline. You’d be amazed at how quickly a baby can start to wrap you around his little finger.
In the beginning, you will spend your time keeping your baby safe and secure and interested in the world around him. Gentle guidance works well, but he will grow and learn to think on his own and that’s when it’s important for parents to be on the same page when it comes to discipline. Consistency gives a clear signal to a child about what is expected, what’s right and what’s not. It also makes it much harder for a child to play one parent against the other when he gets a little older, which most clever kids will try at some point.
Talk with your partner about how you would handle different scenarios. You might be surprised at what different approaches you have. Scenarios to contemplate: throwing food; biting or hitting when angry; saying “no!” to you; temper tantrums at the grocery store… Discuss different techniques for dealing with situations. Do you believe in the use of “timeout,” spanking, sticking to a schedule or letting the child set his needs and wants?
Many situations won’t come up for what now seems like a long time, but children grow like weeds and time flies. It’s a good idea to have a conversation or two before you start the whole ball rolling. It will make life easier for you and your little one later.
Tags: anger management, Baby, discipline, temper tantrum, toddler