11 Best Discipline Strategies Single Parents Can Use

Children described as "discipline problems" do not like to follow rules of parents or other authority figures and do not like taking "no" for an answer.

They may argue with parents or teachers, refuse to do chores at home, throw tantrums to get what they want, or become verbally or physically aggressive.

This does not have to be accepted or tolerated. Nor should it be.

Here are the 11 Best Discipline Strategies Ever to deal with these situations and helping your child to ultimately become self-disciplined.

1. Set firm limits and teach your child that he or she is expected to adhere to them. Provide opportunities for your child to make choices, and have the consequences of each choice clear. Allowing children to make decisions for themselves within limits helps them feel they have some control over their lives. 

2. Make sure you are firm and consistent in setting and enforcing limits. Coordinate efforts with your spouse or others who co-parent with you and work together as a team. Choose carefully those areas where it is really important to take a stand, and put less energy into dealing with minor problems.

3. Be prepared for unusual situations where discipline might be a problem such as a trip to the doctor's office or a ride on the bus.

4. Keep an eye on what is happening. Don't leave children entirely on their own for long periods of time.

5. Distract young children from the problem that you see brewing.

6. Occasionally ignore a mistake or remark that "just slipped out". Never ignore the child.

7. Give children the option for a "time-out". If a child is visibly upset, tell the child you are happy to discuss it or the child can think about the problem in private and then rejoin the family or group when­ever she or he chooses.

8. Provide a cool-down period right before bed. Limit stimulation and activity.

9. Don't engage in rowdy games with your children. Your children will become disrespectful of you.

10. Involve the whole family in understanding and setting rules. Ask for disciplinary suggestions from children.

11. Enforce the rules once they are set.


What do you think of these strategies. Do you have any that you would like to add? Leave your comments below. 

Single Parent Path to the 5 Most Important Benefits of Chores

Chores, by definition, are the regular or daily light work of a household. 

What it essentially does for children is to teach them a sense of responsibility and helps to instill a work ethic.   

Now, here are the 5 Most Important Benefits of Chores

1. Chores are an investment

Children who perform chores have an investment in the family home. Unlike guests, who enjoy the comforts of a home but are not part of what makes it function, children who do chores are personally attached to their home. 

Kids who wash the dishes, vacuum the floors, and clean the sink take on a real feeling of ownership, which leads to greater respect for the place where they live. Children who sweep the porch aren't likely to cross it in muddy shoes.

2. Chores foster skill development.

Parents can gradually increase the complexity and number of chores their kids are accountable for. As children master an array of tasks, they learn many new skills that help them in other areas of their lives.

When parents take the time to teach their children how to do different jobs, the children learn how to learn. They find out that they can successfully take on new and different tasks. 

A child who learns how to sew a tear in a seam can easily learn how to hem his jeans. Learning how to follow a cookie recipe enables a young cook to follow a recipe for lasagna.

3. Chores foster a sense of accomplishment.

Children enjoy a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when they look back at a job well done. Whether a freshly mowed lawn, a tray full of cookies, or a shiny, waxed floor, the fruits of a child's labor are sweet indeed. 

 When children know that their contribution of time and energy has tangible results, they're motivated to do more. Smart parents give their children jobs that have visible results, and then comment positively on those results.

4. Chores give a feeling of pride.

Lots of encouragement and praise is important. Children may take a long time to complete a new job, and they may find the results less than gratifying. But given time, practice, and encouragement, they will keep adding skills to their growing list of abilities. 

When parents point out their successes, they feel proud and "big."

5. Chores teach that everyone is expected to contribute to the family's well-being

Don’t pay children to do chores.Paying children to do chores puts an entirely different slant on the issue. Payment tends to create the illusion that if children don't want the money they aren't obligated to do the chores. 

Family chores should rightly be seen as a child's contribution to family life, not as an option. 

The rewards of being an important part of a family are much more valuable than a few dollars of allowance. Contributing to the smooth running of the family gives children self-esteem, confidence, independence, pride, accomplishment, and mastery of important life skills.

How do you view your children's need for chores? Leave your comments below.