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Corners and Swats or Praise and Pardons?

Discipline for Young Children

By Carma Haley Shoemaker

Using the diversion tactic can often be more difficult than it seems. As young children may be learning and wanting independence, offering a diversion could lead to crying or even tantrums. "My son would get something in his hand or even in his mind and he would be filled with determination," says Carol Miller, a mother from Avon, Ohio. "It was almost impossible to keep him from running back to whatever it was I was trying to divert him from. It took more energy, more time and a lot more patience to try to get his attention focused on something else than it did to just remove the object from him or him from the area. He would eventually go on to something else, but only on his time."

There is no magical technique that will work for every child in every situation. Parents must decide for them -- and their children -- which method of discipline works and fits into their lifestyle. One thing for certain is that it's important to choose both an effective discipline method as well as one that nourishes a child's self-esteem. "A parent's focus should be on teaching and guiding a child's behavior, not controlling it, and ultimately helping the child to learn to control his own behavior," says Graciella Drew. "Especially with young children, the emphasis should be on understanding the developmental stages and using this in setting reasonable expectations. With love, patience, and respect, children can learn proper behavior, self-control and responsibility."