There is no such thing
as ‘discipline’; it is behavior management or modification. Because discipline
is fixed, like in the army, but behavior can vary and with it varies the
methods of handling deviant behavior. The problem is that as adults we follow a
strict policy with kids that says,’ Do as we say, not as we do’, and we forget
that kids learn by imitation! So you can see mothers and teachers shouting at
their kids and asking them to ‘be quiet’!
Yet another myth- Patience.
You can’t have patience with kids, should not have, as there is no such thing
as patience. Patience implies that you are ‘bearing with’ someone, instead of
basing your discipline on patience base it on understanding. Because in
patience you will control the child instead of guiding the child. So stop
telling yourself, I need to be patient with my child, instead say have I
understood what the child is actually trying to tell me with the behavior?
Usually kids have lots to tell you, but do not have the supportive language
development and so their boredom, frustration, anger comes out in behavioral
problems. Show them a socially accepted avenue to show their anger and
frustration, don’t stop them from experiencing these emotions, use sentences
like,’ I know you are angry because I did not give you the toy, but instead of
beating me, you can beat the pillow’.
Don’t react to kids
misbehavior with your own, oh yes it happens. Let me tell you about this mother
and child I watched at the check in
terminal of an airport (the best place that I watch kids interact with
their parents!) a mother sitting in front of me had her 3 year old son sitting
facing her on her lap. Both of them were engrossed in a beautiful interaction and
bonding by singing nursery rhymes that the child must have learnt in his
playschool. The mother’s mobile phone rang and mid sentence she picked up her
cell and started talking to the other person. I could see the child’s face was
disappointed, but the child waited patiently for a full minute( long time in a
toddler’s world!) then started nudging the mother, ‘mummy’, ‘mummy’, mummy’ he
went on quietly and patiently. No response from mummy, she was happily ignoring
the child and chatting on the phone. Exasperated and irritated the child caught
hold of the mothers chin and said, ‘mummy chalo na’, mummy just shook her head
and carried on, to which; to my utter amazement the child slapped the mother!
In reaction to which, to my utter horror, the mother slapped the child and the
child starting bawling. Mother embarrassed, switched off the phone, and started
cajoling the child, ‘I am so sorry beta’ etc etc out of guilt and
embarrassment. The child refused to stop crying only increased the octaves of
screaming! She bought a chocolate for the child and pacified the child.
So what went wrong in
this beautiful interaction that was on between mother and child? How did a
lovely singing bond end in this ‘free for all’?
Simple, the mother did
not show respect for the child, when the mobile phone rang she should have
either completed the song that they were singing and then picked up the phone
or should have excused herself and told the child, I will take this call and
then we will continue. And she should have known to recognize the signs of
‘final frustration’ that kids exhibit, which is ‘holding your chin and making
you look at them’, when kids do this, they are serious, serious about throwing
a full blown tantrum! Final mistake she made she answered a slap with a slap,
isn’t that ‘do as we say and not as we do’? if we are telling kids that they
must not hit when they are angry, then how can we hit when we are angry? And
then buying a chocolate to pacify the child? Materialistic parenting, a no-no
for healthy development of kids.
So respect children and
watch for the impeding signs of tantrums and misbehavior. Catch them being good
instead of punish them when bad.
Children in the first 6
years lack impulse control, which is why without thinking the little boy
slapped his mother. Impulse control comes with the development of the pre
frontal cortex, so the more the prefrontal cortex develops, the better will be
the logic, reasoning, attention, focus in children. Play games to develop
impulse control, simple games like ‘Simon says’, ‘red light, green light’, all
develop impulse control. For example in ‘Simon says’, the child has to
concentrate and wait for the word ‘Simon’ to do the action, so he controls his
impulse to do the action, until he hears the word.
Punishment is a strict
no-no. that is a traditional method, we need guidance, show the child where he
went wrong and what he should have done instead- The difference between the two
approaches is that traditional discipline criticizes children- often publicly-
for unacceptable behaviors whereas guidance teaches children positive
alternatives, what they can do instead.
In today’s world
teachers and mothers need to be leaders and not bosses. In Piaget’s words they
must work for the goal of ‘autonomy’ (intelligent and ethical decision making)
rather than obedience
According to behavioural expert and author ANNE
COPLEY there are four zones that you should look out for in kid’s behaviour-
1.
Safe zone- when children feel wanted, secure, loved,
their needs are met, they function in a safe zone and such children are happy,
well adjusted and well behaved.
2.
Learning zone- when children experience safe zone,
they are able to learn, explore, be creative, make decisions, choose, focus and
this is the learning zone, they will be smarter and learn more.
3.
Anxiety zone- children who do not feel safe, secure,
wanted and reassured are in the anxiety zone. Anxiety leads to irritation,
frustration and anger. It is in this zone that they will start sending out
signs and signals that tell you they are about to ‘let all hell loose’!
4.
Stress zone – when you are unable to read those
signs and give them the required reassurance, help, guidance, they move into
the stress zone, where all hell breaks loose.
It takes a lot of effort, learning, unlearning,
guidance, love, time to bring a child from the stress zone to the safe zone. So
ideally keep them in the safe and learning zone and never reach the anxiety
zone.
Adults should remember that
children do not misbehave we misinterpret their behaviour.
