Supportive Communication in Early Childhood and Discipline Conclusion
Angela Oswalt, MSW, Natalie Staats Reiss, Ph.D and Mark Dombeck, Ph.D.A large section of this article has been dedicated to explaining various methods for disciplining young children (such as setting rules and consequences and using time-outs) so as to help teach them how to make good decisions and choices. However, there's another important way parents can provide children with constructive guidance. Parents can also develop a relationship with their children in which open honest communication flourishes. Parents can do this by getting into the habit of asking children about their daily activities, challenges, and problems, and by showing real interest in what children have to say about their lives. Fostering open communication with children at a young age teaches them to be honest and upfront with their parents. As time goes on and children's minds become more sophisticated, parents can expand upon this open relationship to teach their children how thoughts, feelings and actions are connected and intertwined.
Parents can encourage children to share their experiences by listening patiently to what children have to say. Then, rather than jumping in to solve the problem for the child, parents can think about what the children has said, connect it to a feeling, and reflect that feeling back to the child. For example, if Jenni says, "Suzie didn't jump rope with me at recess. She played with Lisa instead!" Grandpa could say, "Suzie, wow, that must have made you feel sad and lonely that Suzie didn't play with you today." Grandpa's decision to make an empathic reflective statement of this type back to Jenni serves several purposes. First, the statement tells Jenni that Grandpa is listening to her and deeply cares about what is happening to her. By identifying a feeling with a situation, Grandpa's statement also helps Jenni to start learning how to label feelings with words; an important skill necessary for the development of her emotional intelligence. Finally, by not telling Jenni what she should do right away, Grandpa has offered Jenni the space and opportunity she needs to start brainstorming solutions to her problem and evaluate her own different ideas. Helping children to understand themselves more deeply and to learn how to solve their own problems is a far more valuable gift to those children than is solving problems for them.
Conclusion
Parents of young children have many strategies and techniques available to them which can help ensure children's good behavior while simultaneously helping them learn how to make good decisions for themselves, to regulate their own emotions, and to solve their own problems. The foundation of discipline strategies is effective communication. Most primarily, parents can use clear, firm, and positive language to express unconditional love, to explain house rules and expectations, to redirect misbehavior, to give praise, to coordinate with other parents, and to openly talk about problems with their children. Parents can prevent some misbehavior before it happens by setting and communicating age-appropriate house rules; providing immediate positive reinforcements through praise, sticker charts, and other small incentives; offering children a limited number of choices; and by being realistic about children's limits and needs. Parents can also use time-outs as natural and logical consequences to teach children right from wrong.
Resources
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Articles
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Development During Early Childhood, Toddler, and Preschool Stages
- Introduction- Development During Early Childhood
- Early Childhood Physical Development: Average Growth
- Early Childhood Physical Development: Gross and Fine Motor Development
- Early Childhood Physical Development: Toilet Training
- Early Childhood Cognitive Development: Introduction
- Early Childhood Cognitive Development: Symbolic Function
- Early Childhood Cognitive Development: Intuitive Thought
- Early Childhood Cognitive Development: Information Processing
- Early Childhood Cognitive Development: Language Development
- Early Childhood Emotional and Social Development: Emotional Expressiveness and Understanding
- Early Childhood Emotional and Social Development: Reflective Empathy
- Early Childhood Emotional and Social Development: Aggression
- Early Childhood Emotional and Social Development: Identity and Self-Esteem
- Early Childhood Emotional and Social Development: Social Connections
- Early Childhood Emotional and Social Development: Social Connections Continued
- Early Childhood Emotional and Social Development: Conclusion
- Early Childhood Moral Development
- Early Childhood Moral Development Continued
- Early Childhood Gender Identity and Sexuality
- Early Childhood Gender Identity and Sexuality Continued
- Early Childhood Conclusion
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Parenting Your Todder, Preschooler, and Young Child
- Introduction to Parenting Your Toddler, Preschooler, and Young Child
- Early Childhood Feeding and Nutrition
- Early Childhood Food and Nutrition Continued
- Early Childhood Food and Nutrition Conclusion
- Early Childhood Sleep
- Early Childhood Toilet Training
- Early Childhood Hygiene
- Early Childhood Hygiene Continued
- Early Childhood Exercise
- Early Childhood Love and Nurturing
- Early Childhood: It's Important to Encourage Reading
- Early Childhood Medical Care
- Early Childhood Mental Health Care
- Early Childhood Safety
- Coping with Transitions in Early Childhood: Getting a New Sibling or Remaining an Only Child
- Coping with Transition: in Early Childhood: Going to Daycare
- Coping with Transition: Starting Preschool or Kindergarten and Final Conclusions
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Toilet Training
- Early Childhood Toilet Training Introduction
- The Right Time to Start Toilet Training: Children's Readiness
- The Right Time to Start Toilet Training: Family Readiness and Red Flags
- Pre-Toilet Training in Early Childhood
- Preparing the Space for Toilet Training in Early Childhood
- Toilet Training-Friendly Clothing
- Early Childhood Toilet Training Methods
- Early Childhood Toilet Training Methods Continued
- Early Childhood Toilet Training Methods Conclusion
- How to Deal with Toilet Training Challenges: Travel
- How to Deal with Toilet Training Challenges: Constipation and Fear of Flushing
- Bedwetting, Encopresis and Enuresis, and Conclusions
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Disciplining Your Toddler, Preschooler, and Young Child
- Disciplining Your Toddler, Preschooler, and Young Child Introduction
- Parents as Disciplinarians in Early Childhood
- Preventing Early Childhood Misbehavior Before it Happens
- The Use of Choice in Early Childhood
- A Step-by-Step Guide for How to Discipline Children in Early Childhood
- Natural and Logical Consequences in Early Childhood
- Combining Choice and Consequences in Early Childhood
- Early Childhood Time Outs
- Spanking in Early Childhood
- Coordinating to Provide Continuity of Early Childhood Discipline Across Caregivers
- Lying in Early Childhood
- Supportive Communication in Early Childhood and Discipline Conclusion
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Nurturing Your Toddler, Preschooler, and Young Child
- Nurturing Your Toddler, Preschooler, and Young Child Introduction
- Creating Nurturing Space in Early Childhood
- Physical Nurturing: Gross Motor Activities in Early Childhood
- Physical Nurturing: Fine Motor Activities in Early Childhood
- Cognitive Nurturing in Early Childhood
- Cognitive Nurturing in Early Childhood Continued
- Cognitive Nurturing in Early Childhood Conclusion
- Social Nurturing in Early Childhood
- Emotional Nurturing in Early Childhood
- Cultural and Spiritual Nurturing in Early Childhood
- Nurturing at Home and Outside the Home and Nurturing Conclusions
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Child and Adolescent Development Theories
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Infants: Parenting and Child Development
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Development During Early Childhood, Toddler, and Preschool Stages
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Questions and Answers
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Book & Media Reviews
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Links
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Videos
- ADHD in Preschoolers: What to Look For and How to Help
- Button Batteries Sending Kids to the ER
- The Breakdown on Bedwetting
- Holiday Travel - Child Safety Away from Home
- Stuttering- A Window of Opportunity
- Child Development: Stepping Stones - Lesson 18: The School Years: Psychosocial Development
- Nightmare vs. Night Terror
- Safe Seats for Baby
- 3 Tips on Swim Safety
- Big Kids Need a Boost
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- All in On Water Safety
- Diaper Rash Dos & Don’ts
- Your Active Preschooler: Could it be ADHD?
- Sunscreen Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers
- Pack Car Seat for Summer Travel
- How do I get my child to eat new foods?
- Addressing Health Disparities in Early Childhood
- 6 tips to help your children control their emotions
- Recognizing challenging behaviors in young children: Could it be ADHD?
- Classroom Managment Supports for ADHD Behaviors in Preschool Settings
- Household Poisonings and Childhood Dangers
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