The Do’s and Don’ts of Toddler Discipline

By Tom Limbert, M.A, author, parent coach, and workshop leader at Parents Place

When it comes to raising toddlers, Dana Carvey once quipped, “They’re not so bad, just keep M&M’s in your pocket and feed ’em here and there.” If only it were so easy.

What makes toddlers so terrible sometimes? That answer is not as mysterious as it sometimes seems (e.g., in the eye of a tantrum at Target checkout). Think about it—right now, while you’re calm and not tantrumming back at them. What are they grappling with that we have learned and hence take for granted? Two things: they don’t know how to communicate yet, and they don’t know how to manage the overwhelming emotions they’re experiencing for the first time. Wouldn’t that make you want to freak out?

Well, the next time your toddler does, take solace in the fact that you have choices about how to react. What’s more, if you make the “right” choices, they’re going to freak out less and less. I’m going to elaborate but first, allow me to establish some irrefutable truths of human nature—truths that will light your way in your quest to curb your toddler’s seemingly unruly behavior and bring you more peace and quiet.

Tips To Manage Toddler Behavior

1. Human beings wish to be treated with respect.

   • This is innate, and it’s evident as early as one year. If you want your child to heed your guidance, you will want to treat them with respect.

2. Children don’t naturally want to “misbehave.”

   • Sure they’re wired to test a bit, but if they do it repeatedly it’s because they have been conditioned to or have not been taught how else to behave.

3. Discipline is a learning process.

   • The word discipline has the Latin meaning of “instruction, knowledge.” Disciple means “learner.” (Note the absence of the terms “training” or “punishment.”)

4. Young children learn best by modeling behavior.

   • Children learn and imitate behaviors by watching and listening to others. This is sometimes called “observational learning,” when children can learn things simply by observing others. The models do not have to be people that the child directly interacts with. Children learn from models all around them, on television, in the grocery store, at school and at home.

5. “Anger is the enemy of instruction.”

   • OK, it’s a quote from 11-time NBA championship coach Phil Jackson, but I’m putting it here in the irrefutable truths section. Think about it. Frustration and anger just distract humans from attaining messages.Now, watch how these do’s and don’ts flow seamlessly from these truths. The next time your toddler is faced with a challenge—be it physical, social, emotional, cognitive, or all of the above—and proceeds to lose their marbles

Do’s and Don’ts To Keep In Mind:

• • • Do Accept.

      • You want to meet the situation with an understanding that your child has not learned how to communicate or react yet and is behaving perfectly naturally (albeit annoyingly). If you meet your child with a sense of understanding and acceptance, it will color your reaction and make your child more willing to adhere to your advice and support.

    • Don’t Get Defeated.

      • Your confidence is key and should be bolstered by the fact that you know these situations are inevitable. Helping your child in these moments is very much part of your role now (albeit annoying). You’ll be much more effective if you can manage to accept this as well as your child’s behavior.

    • Do Empathize.

      • This ties into the acceptance piece and the #1 truth above: If you can somehow convey to your child that you genuinely feel for him in these (albeit annoying) moments, it will go a long way towards gaining his cooperation. Remember these are your little one’s first encounters with overpowering emotions. Try to articulate your empathy clearly.

    • Don’t Exude Frustration.

      • You’re a leader and a teacher. Think about the ones you look up to. They are calm and confident. If you get all flustered, you won’t be able to communicate effectively and your child will not only be distracted from your messages – you will ironically be reinforcing the very behavior you wish to curb. (This flows from the truth I didn’t list: It’s fun to watch mom or dad sweat.)

    • Do Interpret.

      • Try to decipher what your child is telling you through her behavior. What’s the message here and how did your own behavior or tone influence the scenario? (that part’s not easy) Teach her the language she’s missing.

    • Don’t Ignore.

      • There’s a time and place when the best thing to do is simply to ignore a child’s behavior. But it will be both disrespectful and ineffective if you skip all the other steps.

    • Do Teach.

      • Once you’ve interpreted, it’s time to impart. You can do this through both your calm words and your actions. What understanding or language is she missing that will help now and next time?

    • Don’t Train.

      • Best to stay away from bribes unless you think Dana Carvey was onto something (hint: he’s a comedian). As these little guys get older, you can start to explain the benefits associated with making the right choices. Calmly remind them what’s in it for them—much more effective long-term than bribes and threats.

    • Do Redirect.

      • Especially when your toddler is all fired-up, you don’t want to get caught lecturing—keep it brief and then move the attention to the next activity. I’m not saying distract your child. I’m saying state the limit, the reason briefly, genuinely empathize, and then move his attention toward something he can do. If you can somehow tie that activity towards what she wanted in the first place, but in a more acceptable manner, all the better. You’ll be showing your child that you respect her (that makes humans more willing to listen). It will help if you sell it a bit – as you know, people follow enthusiastic leaders.

    • Don’t Punish.

      • If you in fact accept all five truths above—especially #2 (I like making you read them again)—then it follows that punishing young children is futile. Just ask yourself: Do I want to teach my child that when he gets frustrated and tests limits he will be punished, or teach him that there are alternatives to his behavior, he can make better choices, it will benefit him in the end, and I am here to help him learn all that?

    • Do Allow Emotions.

      • There will no doubt be times when you have done all you can and your child is just not having any of your pearls of wisdom. This is key: allow your child to experience her emotions. Help her label and understand them in time (lots of time)(and then some). If you meet her emotions with understanding, support, and acceptance (accept too that you can’t always “fix” it), the tantrums will lose power and eventually cease. Sometimes they just need a good cry.

    • Don’t Engage in Conflict.

      • Getting worked up? They already know your buttons. Just respectfully and calmly tell your child YOU need to calm down and walk away from the battle. Stick to whatever lesson you were teaching and tell him you’re ready to help him more when you both calm down; balance empathy with calm, confident consistency. Lead the way to communication and solutions.

The hardest part in all of this is keeping your own emotions under control when your child is pushing your buttons (see—didn’t you like me better when I understood you?). But if you can manage to do more of these “do’s” and less of these “don’ts,” you’ll find your child will internalize the lessons sooner. That’ll give you more time to read parenting articles—joy!

Attend Tom’s Parents Place workshop:
For Dads Only: Effective Fathering (All Ages) Thurs., Jan. 10,
6:30-8:30 PM, Parents Place San Mateo.

Seeking other resources to help your child thrive? Attend a workshop, schedule a parent education meeting, or schedule an assessment with one of the Child and Adolescent Specialists at Parents Place.

Tom Limbert is a parent educator and workshop leader at Parents Place. He is the author of What They Won’t Tell You About Parenting, which expands on the ideas in this blog, and Most Valuable Dad, which makes an ideal gift for sports-fan dads.