MORE ABOUT THE BIG MISTAKES PARENTS SHOULD NOT DO, PART II

Further to our talk, another mistake parents usually, do and it works most of the time, is to bribe your kid to do what you want. Mothers usually bribe their kids with a treat to finish their meals. A mom once offered her two- year- old daughter a piece of chocolate to finish her dinner.

It works, but then she demands a piece of chocolate with any small amount of food. Experts say that reinforcing a good behavior is a better method. So, instead of giving your kid a toy or a treat to eat or behave, you better try “I am really proud of your behavior during dinner at grandpa’s”.

Furthermore, do not belittle the power of disappointment. When you say to your child “I am really sad you broke the vase your grandma gave to me”, you child will feel bad about his behavior. You may feel terrible about yourself in the moment, but you help your kid develop a conscience and be more careful.

Another mistake that parents usually do is to break their own rules. A 2- year- old son when doing things he should not like taking the car keys or pulling things off the shelf, him mom slaps his hand and says in a harsh tone “no, this is wrong”.

This technique works great, but his preschool teacher noticed he slaps the hand of any child that does something he does not like. His mom could not tell her son it was wrong since she and her husband are doing the same to him. So, she witched to time- outs instead of slapping the hand.

Experts say that time- outs are not just for kids but for adults as well; when you find yourself losing patience, walk away and take a deep breath to be more effective when disciplining your kid. When your child pushes your buttons, go to another room to cool off so that the situation does not escalate.