Parents can use several tools to effectively offer guidance to their toddlers. There is nothing that calms a young child more than a parent’s comforting touch.

When a child requires help navigating a situation or emotion, especially frustration, stroking her back or head will have a calming effect that allows the child to remain steady through the emotion and learn to regulate it. Parents can also use touch to teach a toddler how to comfort herself.

The goal of discipline is to teach kids how to act appropriately in a family, with friends, in school and the community. Guide children in a responsible way so that they become competent, caring and contributing members of society.

Your children are taking in everything you do and copying the behavior they see. One of the best discipline techniques is simply paying attention to the way you act and modeling what you want them to learn.

WhEN children misbehave it is natural to get frustrated. However, adults should never spank, slap or hit a child. Children can be embarrassed or feel that they are not worth much when they are spanked or hit.

Frequently parents and other caregivers will “ground” or restrict activities for children’s misbehaviors. If the restriction is for not coming home on time, then the consequence is logical.