nutch_noindex
Search Icon
    Menu Button
    Stanford Children's Health
    DonateContactMyChart LoginFind a Doctor
    • Second Opinion
    • Donate
    • Contact
    • Refer a Patient
    • En Español
    • Our Locations
    • Medical Services
    • About Us
    • Research & Innovation
    • Patients & Visitors
    • For Health Professionals
    • Second Opinion
    • Donate
    • En Español
    • MyChart Login
    • Recently Visited
      • Our Locations
      • Medical Services
      • About Us
      • Research & Innovation
      • Patients & Visitors
      • For Health Professionals
      CANCEL
      • View More Results

      Loading...

      COVID-2019 Alert

      Information about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. Read the latest >

      Información sobre el coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Aprenda más >

      /nutch_noindex

       


      Disciplining Your Child at Any Age

      Father and son having a conversation.

      Each child is different, but most children need to be given clear rules about behavior. Discipline needs to start as soon as a child is pulling up and crawling. Infants rely on their parents to provide a safe environment. Discipline should be age-focused. And it should teach age-appropriate behaviors.

      Things to keep in mind

      Some general values about discipline include:

      • Be a good role model for your child.

      • Try to recognize and praise your child when he or she is being good.

      • Make sure rewards for good behavior happen right away.

      • Hug your child after using discipline. Make sure the child knows it’s the behavior you’re not happy with, not your child.

      • Don’t use physical punishment.

      How to lessen unwanted behavior

      Try not to reward a child or give positive support for a bad behavior. For example, if your child is having a tantrum, giving him or her a cookie to be quiet is a reward for the bad behavior. To help lessen bad behavior, try these tactics:

      • Don’t give positive support for bad behavior. Instead, try ignoring the behavior.

      • Have the behavior result in an unpleasant result, such as punishment.

      Punishment has 2 forms, including:

      • Denying your child privileges or a desired activity. This may be limiting TV time, or saying "no" to dessert.

      • Requiring an activity that isn’t fun. This may include doing chores, or having a “time out.”

      A behavior can also have a natural result that’s like punishment. For example, a child who won’t eat may go to bed hungry.

      Keep in mind that spanking and other forms of physical punishment aren’t helpful. This type of discipline teaches a child aggressive behavior.

      Tips for discipline by age

      Discipline often depends on the age of a child, and how much he or she understands his or her behavior. These are some tips for discipline by age group.

      Babies and toddlers

      • Safety is the main concern. Provide a safe environment that decreases the chances of things being broken by the child.

      • Babies will respond to a loud, firm voice saying "no."

      • After saying "no," direct your child to a good behavior, such as a toy.

      • Don’t reward bad behavior. Ignore temper tantrums. But confront other problems, such as biting or hitting.

      • Praise and reward good behavior.

      Preschoolers

      • Preschoolers need clear and consistent rules.

      • This age group needs time to get ready for the next activity. Give your child a warning before it’s time to stop playing.

      • Preschoolers need lots of explanation as to why things are being done.

      • Use time-out for bad behavior.

      • Use praise for good behavior.

      School-aged children

      • Give your child chances to explain his or her side and opinion.

      • Let your child express his or her feelings and concerns.

      • Give your child choices.

      • Give your child chances to help solve problems together regarding his or her behavior.

      Teens

      • This age group needs patient and understanding parents. They will test all limits.

      • Teens need to be told the long-term outcomes of bad behaviors.

      • Teens need to be involved with limit-setting, based on their maturity.

      Related Topics

      • Neurological Exam for Children
      • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

      Quality & Safety

      • About Quality Data
      • Benchmark Data
      • Understanding Level of Illness
      • Quality Data Disclaimer
      • Quality & Safety Outcome Data
      • Patient Satisfaction Data
      nutch_noindex
      • About Us
      • Contact
      • MyChart Login
      • Careers
      • Blog
      • Refer a Patient
      • Download from App Store Download From Google Play
      • Notice of Nondiscrimination
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Code of Conduct

      © 2021 Stanford Children's Health

      About

      • About Us
      • Our Hospital
      • Patient Stories
      • Blog
      • News
      • Send a Greeting Card
      • New Hospital
      • Careers

      Connect

      • Donate
      • Refer a Patient
      • Contact Us
      • Pay Your Bill

      Find

      • Doctors
      • Locations
      • Services
      • Classes
      Download from App Store Download From Google Play

      Also Find Us on:

      • facebook
      • twitter
      • youtube
      • linkedin
      US News & World Report Badge
      • Stanford Medicine
      • Stanford University
      • Stanford Health Care
      • Lucile Packard Foundation
      • Notice of Nondiscrimination
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Code of Conduct
      • © 2021 Stanford Children's Health
      /nutch_noindex