Kids' Discipline: Giving Your Child Choices
As we're sure you've gathered by now, most kids are secretly control freaks! So, why not take advantage of your child's need to be the one in charge by letting him make some of his own decisions? If you use this technique effectively, you can avoid a lot of discipline problems!
The secrets to making this parenting technique work for you—rather than against you—are:
- To only offer choices that you are ready to live with.
For example, don't ask your kid if he wants to miss Grandma's birthday party because of his bad behavior unless you're prepared for an enthusiastic "yes."
Steer clear of situations in which only one of the choices is a logical option (such as, "Do you pick up your toys or be grounded for life?")
Research has shown that children under the age of 5 do best if you limit the number of choices to two!
If he won't make his decision within the allotted time period, you'll need to tell him that he's chosen not to choose and you'll be making the decision for him).
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