The Mental Emotional Health Blog

Discipline is one of the most important subjects in mental health. The style and effectiveness of the discipline parents or guardians provide can shape family communication patterns, individual self-esteem, social learning, ability to have healthy relationships, and obviously behavior.

I have compiled a short list of essential considerations for discipline:

•         Priorities as a parent or guardian:
  • Safety (never put a child in danger for the purpose of discipline)
  • Emphasize learning over punishment
• It is up to the adult to take the lead in showing appropriate character and responsibility.
• Earning respect usually works better than demanding it from a child.
• Respond to resistance or negativity from your child or teen with short positives.  Example:  Child – “My friend’s parent lets them stay out until 11pm!”  Adult – “Good, I hope it works for them.”
• In an argument, the person who tries to do the most convincing ends up losing the most power.
• Demonstrate more patience than your children. You can outlast them.
• Stick to one topic at a time, and try not to lecture on everything you can remember your child/teen has done wrong the past several days.