missyporschebiru: ~ What's the best way to discipline a toddler? ~ >

tOddLer oH toddLer =)

At any age, discipline should focus on teaching children how you want them to behave and not on punishment. Because children learn differently at different ages, discipline and teaching techniques should take into account the child's developmental level and ability to learn.

During the toddler years, the best techniques for teaching children how you want them to behave are repetition, distraction, and supervision.

RepetitioN

Repetition is important because children between the ages of one and three need a lot of practice to learn new concepts. The concepts involved in following directions, taking turns, and delaying gratification are new and challenging for toddlers and are learnt only through constant practice. It's no use getting upset because you've told your son over and over not to climb on the table-he may need to hear that a hundred or more times before he finally remembers what you have said so that he can use that information to modify his own behavior.

DistractioN

Distraction is especially important for helping toddlers avoid trouble. Once you've told your toddler not to climb on the coffee table, it may sink in better if you get him to leave the living room and to find something else to do. If you stay in the living room, you'll have to keep stopping him, and sooner or later someone is going to get frustrated.

The important things is that your child learns that 'no' means 'no', not that the two of you get into a battle of wills. Your child will eventually learn that climbing is not allowed, but he can find other fun things to do. You want him to learn how to find alternatives to behaviors you don't allow.

SupervisioN

Supervision involves being alert to your toddler's mood and avoiding difficult situations. Avoid confrontations by 'toddler-proofing' your child's environment so that most temptations are out of sight and true safety concerns are kept to a minimum. It's much easier for a child to learn what 'no' means if it applies to only a few situations-no hitting, no climbing, no running in the street, etc. - instead of a long list of no-no's (no touching the VCR, no touching the cat's food, no opening the cupboard doors, no going down the stairs, and so on) .

If things he's not to touch are out of reach and you put up gates to prevent your toddler from going where he's not allowed, you greatly reduce the number of rules and prohibitions he needs to understand along with his risk of making mistakes or even injuring himself.