Discipline also protects kids from major health issues such as preventing obesity. The ultimate goal of discipline should be to keep kids safe. When you see your child playing gently, and practicing the positive behavior, take time to recognize it. Discipline extends to personal life, career, work, study, lifestyle, and even social life. It teaches new behavior rather than punishment of the old. So it is very important to set foundations in order to create good behavior on the life of a child. It is as important as healthy food, body exercise, and love. Give them your attention. Why children need discipline. Concentrate on rules that are most important to you as a parent and prioritize them. This includes major safety issues, such as looking both ways before crossing the road. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Yet bad is naturally acquired? And why discipline your children is so important? Talk with your child about this rather than just giving consequences. But setting your child limits is vital for teaching him self-control, and they help your child feel secure . The most important point is that kids understand how to act appropriately in many situations and manage their feeling well. When kids are disciplined with appropriate consequences they learn from their mistakes. Discipline isn't just about giving kids consequences. If you let your child eat whatever they want, they may experience serious health risks. As elementary-school-age children head into adolescence and the turbulence of the teenage years, they will be much more likely to successfully navigate challenges and temptations if they have the tools to discipline themselves. Ann-Louise T. Lockhart, PsyD, ABPP, is a board-certified pediatric psychologist, parent coach, author, speaker, and owner of A New Day Pediatric Psychology, PLLC. 4 Questions to Ask When Child Doesn't Seem to Care About Consequences, 10 Bad Excuses for Not Disciplining Your Kids. Will Spanking Kids Really Scar Them for Life? Why children need discipline is very crucial for their happiness and joy. What to Do if Your Child is a Biter, why it’s important to discipline children, Parenting knowledge, attitudes and practices, Role of parenting style in children's behavioral problems through the transition from preschool to elementary school according to gender in Japan. There should be consequences when your child doesn't take appropriate safety precautions. B2M Productions / Photographer's Choice / Getty Images. Kids need to know where the limits are and that someone loves them enough to … Through intentional and consistent discipline your child is aware of expected behavior. They are more self-confident. Consistency is the key to effective discipline, and it's important for parents to decide (together, if you are not a single parent) what the rules are and then uphold them. Child discipline should start in the beginning. Why Discipline is Essential to Parenting and Early Learning Though the word "discipline" often has a negative connotation, it is just as necessary as love, food and sleep when it comes to raising a child. The ultimate goal of discipline should be to keep kids safe. Talking to your child early may help in your child's brain development and train them to know what we expect by our tone (i.e. Used sparingly or liberally, understanding how to discipline your child is fundamental to the parent-child dynamic. Understand the expected behavior at different ages. Appropriate discipline is about guiding your children to choose right over wrong. But proper discipline is one of the most important components of your child’s development. In such situations, we realise why is discipline important for a child since his childhood. The one truly magical aspect of parenting is the importance of a child's first four years. A child who has been taught right from wrong and has a solid sense of what is negative and positive behavior will know when they have done something wrong. They will want to behave correctly out of a desire to be a good citizen and a member of their family and society—not because they fear punishment. Start working on your Child’s Discipline from an Early Age. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Instead of saying, “Stop jumping,” when your child is jumping on the bed, tell them why it's a problem. There should be consequences when your child doesn't take appropriate safety precautions. “Children will inevitably misbehave from time to time,” says parenting expert, Elizabeth O’Shea. If you refuse to give in to a temper tantrum, your child will learn that's not a good way to get his needs met. “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” This ability can be developed or strengthened at any given time if you put your mind to it. Read our, Reviewed by Ann-Louise T. Lockhart, PsyD, ABPP, Verywell Family uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Just as your children playing video games all the time will lead to bad results, so too can your lack of wisdom and self-restraint when interacting with your children lead to bad results. They will be more likely to engage in negative behaviors that are harmful and even potentially dangerous for themselves as well as others. Kids need to learn problem-solving skills, impulse control, and self-regulation skills from appropriate training. Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. But it’s just as important to pay attention to how you discipline your children as it is to why you discipline them. Some people may have unpleasant memories of being disciplined when they were children and may want to make things easier on their own kids by relaxing rules and giving them more free rein. 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