Roving Caregivers Programme
Family Corner
“A guide to help you Discipline your child.”

Child Discipline - What is it?
Child discipline is one of the most important elements of successful parenting, yet more and more, parents just don’t know what to do. Discipline (or training) might simply be defined as a process to help children learn appropriate behaviours and make good choices. In addition, loving, effective discipline aids a child in exercising self-control, accountability, and mutual respect.
Through proper discipline, children learn how to function in a family and society that is full of boundaries, rules, and laws by which we all must abide. With it, children gain a sense of security, protection, and often feel accomplishment. Without proper discipline, children are at risk for a variety of behavioural and emotional problems.

Child Discipline - How Does it Work?
How do we effectively implement child discipline? The Bible says parents have a God-given responsibility to train their child in the way he should go. That challenge often requires that we first learn to discipline ourselves in the matters of child rearing. Whether parenting skills come naturally or we learn them through trial and error, they are accomplished by consistency, encouragement, and example. The importance of these tools cannot be expressed enough.
Here are some effective child discipline techniques using instruction:
• State boundaries and commands clearly and concisely. As parents, we cannot flip-flop when children try to bargain or negotiate - and they will. Children will test us to see if we will give in to their persuasive pleas (no matter their age).

We must deliver our instructions calmly, yet steadfastly, not as a quivering request. It is more effective to say, “Do not go into the street. Stay in our yard,” instead of “Mommy doesn’t want you to leave the yard, ok?” Children must know when parents are serious.
• Our authority must be clearly, consistently established. Use only the necessary words, and teach your children to develop eye contact and listening skills. Show, by example, that you listen to them as you expect them to listen.
• Remember to make rewards and disciplinary consequences not only age appropriate, but also task appropriate. Don’t over-punish minor misbehaviors.
• Teach your child that all actions bring consequences. Encourage them when they make good choices. They need to know the benefits of obeying and making good choices, as well as the negative consequences for disobedience.
• State directives/results and follow through; don’t issue idle threats. Give predictable consequences, such as, “If you behave in this way, this will happen.”
• Teach them good and moral behaviours by displaying your own good and moral behaviors. Go to church as a family. Plan healthy family activities that promote good morals and “together” time. You will soon see your child mirror your values and morals. Child discipline and training does not occur in a vacuum. Their behaviours are formed within the context of what they witness in their primary teachers, which is you their parent(s). (Next week:- Child Discipline - when should it begin?)
The Roving Caregivers Programme is a collaborative venture among the Bernard Van Leer Foundation, the Caribbean Child Support Initiative, the Government of St. Lucia, through the Ministry of Education and Culture, and UNICEF. The RCP provides early stimulation experiences to children from birth to three years in identified target communities. The programme is a home intervention model and also provides integrated family support services. Home visitations are conducted in 20 communities by trained community caregivers.
You can help: “Change the world, one family, one child, at a time” by contributing money, toys, learning and other resource materials. Contributions can be taken to the Early Childhood Services Unit, Ministry of Education and Culture in La Clery. You email us at rcpslu @ gmail.com.