The dreams you have for your child—and that he has for himself—depend, in part, on his self-discipline. Will he behave well? Will he get along with others? Will he be responsible? Will he overcome challenges?
To encourage self-discipline:
To encourage self-discipline:
- Set limits. As your child grows, family rules will change. But they should match his age and abilities. Be sure to enforce key rules consistently. Otherwise your expectations will become confusing.
- Be clear. Instead of, “Clean your room,” say, “Make your bed and stack your blocks in the corner.” Explain possible results: “When you’re finished, we can leave for the park,” or “Toys left out are taken away for a day.”
- Use consequences. Kids learn from their successes and failures. Stick to rules you make. And let your child make minor decisions, even if you disagree with them. He might spend his allowance too quickly, for example, and learn from this mistake.
- Solve problems. Work through difficulties together. Avoid yelling and interrupting. Focus on respect and solutions. Meanwhile, give your child chances to solve problems himself, with your guidance when needed.
- Be a role model. You are your child’s most important teacher. Show him exactly how you want him to act. Over time, you will see results.
http://extension.unh.edu/family/documents/RTAConrl.htm
Source: : Ann Hamilton, “Raising Tomorrow’s Adults: Teaching Children Self-Control and Self-responsibility,” University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. Reprint permission The Parent Institute (c) 2007.