Does Your Child Have Self Discipline?

We’re​ ​pretty​ ​sure​ ​you​ ​can​ ​relate​ ​to​ ​those​ ​parents​ ​you​ ​see​ ​out​ ​in​ ​restaurants​ ​with​ ​their​ ​young children​ ​reminding​ ​them​ ​to​ ​sit​ ​up​ ​straight​ ​and​ ​eat​ ​properly.​ ​​​How​ ​about​ ​those​ ​parents​ ​in​ shopping centres who​ ​are​ ​constantly​ ​telling​ ​their​ ​children​ ​not​ ​to​ ​run​ ​or​ scream.​ ​​​Then​ ​there​ ​are​ ​those​ ​parents​ ​who you​ ​often​ ​hear​ being upset with their children ​for​ ​not​ ​playing​ ​fair​ly ​or​ ​sharing​ ​their​ ​toys.​ ​​​Oh,​ ​and​ ​let’s not​ ​forget​ those ​parents​ ​who​ ​get​ ​interrupted​ ​by​ ​their​ ​children​ ​when talking​ ​to​ ​someone​ ​else.​ ​All​ ​too​ ​familiar,​ ​right?

Without​ ​a​ ​doubt,​ ​disciplining​ ​children​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​major​ ​challenges​ ​of​ ​parenting.​ ​Young children​ ​can’t​ ​help​ ​it​ ​as​ ​they​ ​are​ ​naturally​ ​impulsive.​ ​That​ ​is​ ​why​ ​we​ ​need​ ​all​ ​the​ ​help​ ​we​ ​can​ ​get in​ ​this​ ​department,​ ​whether​ ​we​ ​like​ ​to​ ​admit​ ​it​ ​or​ ​not.​ ​​​Especially​ ​since​ ​we​ ​want​ ​them​ ​to​ ​be​ ​able to​ ​exercise​ ​discipline​ ​when​ ​we​ ​are​ ​not​ ​around​ ​because​ ​a​ ​child​ ​who​ ​knows​ ​how​ ​to​ ​practice self-discipline​ ​will​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​take​ ​on​ ​different​ ​challenges.​ ​A​ ​child​ ​who​ ​does​ ​the​ ​right​ ​thing​ ​even when​ ​no​ ​one​ ​is​ ​looking​ ​will​ ​certainly​ ​do​ ​well​ ​in​ ​life.

Here​ ​are​ ​some​ ​ways​ ​we​ ​can​ ​help​ ​our​ ​children​ ​develop​ ​self-discipline:

Teach​ ​children​ ​to​ ​come​ ​when​ ​they​ ​are​ ​called.​​ ​This​ ​is​ ​probably​ ​the​ ​most​ ​basic​ ​and​ ​the earliest​ ​things​ ​that​ ​a​ ​child​ ​should​ ​learn.​ ​​​Toddlers​ ​should​ ​master​ ​this​ ​as​ ​soon​ ​as​ ​they​ ​start walking​ ​or​ ​talking.​ ​​​What​ ​happens​ ​though,​ ​is​ ​that​ ​when​ ​children​ ​get​ ​pre-occupied​ ​with​ ​other things​ ​such​ ​as​ ​toys​ ​or​ ​gadgets,​ ​they​ ​tend​ ​to​ ​ignore​ ​the​ ​call​ ​because​ ​they​ ​do​ ​not​ ​want​ ​to​ ​stop what​ ​they​ ​are​ ​doing.​ ​​​Teach​ ​your​ ​children​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​how​ ​to​ ​distinguish​ ​what​ ​is​ ​more​ ​important​ ​and to​ ​learn​ ​how​ ​to​ ​stop​ ​what​ ​they​ ​are​ ​currently​ ​doing​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​attend​ ​to​ ​the​ ​more​ ​important matter.

Teach​ ​children​ ​to​ ​respond​ ​positively​ ​to​ ​correction.​​ ​A​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​children​ ​don’t​ ​take​ ​corrections very​ ​well.​ ​​​Most​ ​children​ ​do​ ​not​ ​like​ ​being​ ​corrected​ ​at​ ​all,​ ​and​ ​often​ ​react​ ​negatively.​ ​​​Let​ ​them know​ ​that​ ​this​ ​is​ ​never​ ​acceptable​ ​and​ ​that​ ​we​ ​will​ ​always​ ​be​ ​faced​ ​with​ ​a​ ​situation​ ​wherein​ ​we will​ ​have​ ​to​ ​do​ ​things​ ​we​ ​may​ ​not​ ​like​ ​and​ ​as​ ​long​ ​as​ ​it​ ​is​ ​not​ ​something​ ​that​ ​is​ ​bad​ ​or​ ​will​ ​cause harm​ ​to​ ​others​ ​then​ ​we​ ​will​ ​have​ ​to​ ​do​ ​it.​ ​They​ ​must​ ​learn​ ​how​ ​to​ ​accept​ ​these​ ​things​ ​and​ ​do​ ​it with​ ​a​ ​good​ ​attitude.​ ​​​This​ ​will​ ​require​ ​a​ ​certain​ ​level​ ​of​ ​self-discipline​ ​from​ ​them​ ​and​ ​may​ ​be difficult​ ​to​ ​do,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​is​ ​one​ ​thing​ ​that​ ​will​ ​help​ ​them​ ​throughout​ ​life.

A​ ​number​ ​of​ ​social​ ​skills​ ​require​ ​self-control.​ D​​ iscipline​ ​is​ ​the​ ​foundation​ ​for​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​social skills,​ ​that​ ​is​ ​why​ ​it​ ​is​ ​important​ ​for​ ​young​ ​children​ ​to​ ​master​ ​this​ ​early​ ​on.​ ​​​Acknowledge​ ​your children’s​ ​efforts​ ​when​ ​they​ ​show​ ​improvement​ ​and​ ​in​ ​the​ ​same​ ​breath,​ ​let​ ​them​ ​know​ ​which areas​ ​still​ ​need​ ​some​ ​work.​ ​​​Observe​ ​your​ ​children​ ​to​ ​find​ ​out​ ​what​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​approach​ ​works​ ​best for​ ​them.​ ​​​Each​ ​one​ ​is​ ​different,​ ​so​ ​what​ ​might​ ​work​ ​for​ ​one​ ​child​ ​may​ ​not​ ​always​ ​work​ ​for​ ​the others.

Encourage​ ​children​ ​to​ ​take​ ​on​ ​activities​ ​which​ ​build​ ​self-discipline.​​ ​Engage​ ​your​ ​children to​ ​take​ ​up​ ​an​ ​after​ ​school​ ​or​ ​weekend​ ​activities​ ​that​ ​can​ ​help​ ​you.​ ​Sports​ ​or​ ​music​ ​lessons,​ ​an

easy,​ ​age-appropriate​ ​job​ ​or​ ​chore​ ​often​ ​helps​ ​a​ ​lot.​ ​Martial​ ​Arts​ ​has​ ​become​ ​the​ ​smart​ ​choice for​ ​most​ ​parents​ ​as​ ​they​ ​see​ ​the​ ​results​ ​quickly​ ​and​ ​have​ ​noted​ ​how​ ​much​ ​the​ ​sport​ ​has​ ​helped their​ ​children​ ​in​ ​more​ ​ways​ ​than​ ​they​ ​ever​ ​expected.

Associate​ ​things​ ​to​ ​self-discipline​ ​whenever​ ​possible.​ ​​W​​ hen​ ​your​ ​child​ ​comes​ ​home​ ​from school​ ​with​ ​a​ ​good​ ​grade​ ​or​ ​praises​ ​from​ ​his​ ​or​ ​her​ ​teacher,​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​how​ ​self-discipline played​ ​a​ ​part​ ​in​ ​that.​ ​​​Explain​ ​how​ ​chores​ ​are​ ​given​ ​not​ ​only​ ​to​ ​get​ ​the​ ​task​ ​done​ ​but​ ​mainly​ ​to develop​ ​responsibility​ ​and​ ​build​ ​self-discipline.​ ​​​“I​ ​know​ ​how​ ​hard​ ​it​ ​is​ ​to​ ​get​ ​up​ ​early​ ​on weekends,​ ​but​ ​you​ ​still​ ​do​ ​so​ ​to​ ​attend​ ​your​ ​martial​ ​arts​ ​class.​ ​​​That​ ​shows​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of self-discipline,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​am​ ​proud​ ​of​ ​you​ ​for​ ​that.”​ ​or​ ​“I​ ​know​ ​that​ ​staying​ ​in​ ​bed​ ​and​ ​playing​ ​with your​ ​iPad​ ​seems​ ​like​ ​a​ ​better​ ​thing​ ​to​ ​do​ ​but​ ​thank​ ​you​ ​for​ ​choosing​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​your​ ​chores instead.”

Use​ ​bedtime​ ​to​ ​teach​ ​self-discipline.​​ ​Raise​ ​your​ ​glass​ ​of​ ​wine​ ​if​ ​bedtime​ ​is​ ​a​ ​constant struggle.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​day,​ ​and​ ​you​ ​would​ ​think​ ​that​ ​children​ ​will​ ​be​ ​eager​ ​to​ ​go​ ​to​ ​sleep after​ ​a​ ​full​ ​day​ ​of​ ​activities,​ ​right?​ ​Yet,​ ​somehow,​ ​it​ ​still​ ​takes​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​to​ ​get​ ​them​ ​to​ ​go​ ​to​ ​bed​ ​and stay​ ​quietly​ ​in​ ​it​ ​until​ ​they​ ​fall​ ​asleep.​ ​Let​ ​this​ ​be​ ​a​ ​learning​ ​opportunity​ ​for​ ​children​ ​to​ ​exercise self-discipline.​ ​​​They​ ​should​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​get​ ​to​ ​bed​ ​at​ ​a​ ​certain​ ​time​ ​and​ ​fall​ ​asleep​ ​soon​ ​enough without​ ​any​ ​distractions​ ​and​ ​without​ ​needing​ ​mommy​ ​or​ ​daddy​ ​to​ ​check​ ​up​ ​on​ ​them​ ​every​ ​so often.

Morning​ ​routines,​ ​chores,​ ​and​ ​family​ ​schedules​ ​become​ ​opportunities​ ​for​ ​children​ ​to learn​ ​responsibility​ ​and​ ​self-discipline.​​ ​When​ ​they​ ​complete​ ​their​ ​responsibilities​ ​well​ ​and​ ​on time,​ ​offer​ ​a​ ​simple​ ​reward​ ​or​ ​privilege.​ ​When​ ​they​ ​make​ ​their​ ​beds​ ​and​ ​keep​ ​their​ ​rooms​ ​clean for​ ​7​ ​days​ ​straight,​ ​they​ ​may​ ​deserve​ ​30​ ​minutes​ ​more​ ​of​ ​screen​ ​time​ ​on​ ​weekends.​ ​​​If​ ​they​ ​are able​ ​to​ ​do​ ​their​ ​homework​ ​well​ ​on​ ​their​ ​own,​ ​they​ ​may​ ​be​ ​given​ ​a​ ​chance​ ​to​ ​choose​ ​what​ ​they want​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​for​ ​lunch.​ ​​​Simple​ ​rewards​ ​like​ ​that​ ​can​ ​prove​ ​to​ ​be​ ​great​ ​motivators​ ​for​ ​young children.

As​ ​with​ ​everything​ ​else,​ ​be​ ​a​ ​good​ ​role​ ​model.​ ​​​​Our​ ​children​ ​do​ ​notice​ ​everything​ ​we​ ​say​ ​and do,​ ​and​ ​unfortunately,​ ​they​ ​think​ ​that​ ​it​ ​is​ ​always​ ​right.​ ​​​Be​ ​careful​ ​when​ ​around​ ​them​ ​and​ ​when you​ ​do​ ​make​ ​a​ ​mistake,​ ​take​ ​the​ ​time​ ​to​ ​explain​ ​it​ ​to​ ​them​ ​so​ ​that​ ​they​ ​know​ ​not​ ​to​ ​imitate​ ​it.

We​ ​know​ ​that​ ​it​ ​can​ ​be​ ​tempting​ ​and​ ​is​ ​definitely​ ​easier​ ​to​ ​let​ ​children​ ​do​ ​what​ ​they​ ​want, especially​ ​when​ ​we​ ​are​ ​tired​ ​from​ ​working​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​day.​ ​​​It​ ​is​ ​important​ ​though​ ​that​ ​we​ ​exert extra​ ​effort​ ​to​ ​instill​ ​discipline​ ​in​ ​children​ ​early​ ​on​ ​because​ ​if​ ​not,​ ​things​ ​will​ ​only​ ​be​ ​more difficult.

Doing​ ​so​ ​will​ ​help​ ​parents​ ​nurture​ ​other​ ​social​ ​skills​ ​with​ ​less​ ​hassle​ ​and​ ​will​ ​also​ ​help​ ​ensure the​ ​child​ ​success​ ​as​ ​they​ ​grow​ ​up.​ ​​​It​ ​is​ ​hard​ ​work,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​will​ ​definitely​ ​be​ ​all​ ​worth​ ​it​ ​in​ ​the​ ​end.