Disciplining Techniques ~ Need More/New Ideas

[mama2km]

Now I love Kaitlyn to death! Don't get my wrong about that. But lately, she is just really testing me. I think it has somewhat to do with her age b/c I've talked to another parent whose daughter is Kaitlyn's age & she is telling me the same things about her daughter.

Kaitlyn all of a sudden has a nasty attitute problem, is very sassy, talks back, lies, & doesn't want to help.

I have tried some disciplining techniques such as:
--- time out
--- counting to or from 5 (& having her stop or start the bahavior before I finish counting)
---taking away toys

I have thought of maybe making a reward system where whenever she listens or behaves, she'd get a sticker & whenever she doesn't listen or behave, she'd loose a sticker. I guess once the stickers added up to a certain number, she'd get a prize & when she'd loose a certain number of stickers, there would be a big consequence.

I am just out of ideas & I'm sure b/c Kaitlyn is living in 2 different households with 2 completly different parenting styles, she's becoming frustrated & maybe there is some confusion. I don't really know for sure.

Anyway...what I'm getting to & asking is:

What sort of disciplining ideas or techniques do you use in your homes? Any ideas or advice you can share with me?
Anything you can say to help me, would be great!

THANKS!!!

[pwfaith]

I don't usually care for the Ezzo's but I have found this parenting tip to be very useful!

Sarah

Becoming a Better Mom Tip: Require a "Yes, Mom" or a "Yes, Dad" Response
By Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam, M.D.

Children learn by the words we say. Instruction is a real part of the heart training process. But in the average home most of our instructions come during moments of great frustration. Learning how to give instructions in such a way that your child will obey, without either one of you being exasperated, is a worthy pursuit.

Sooner or later, every parent must decide what obedience will look like in his or her home. The definition is not usually forged out of a mental exercise with pen and paper but from the reality of what happens after giving instruction. For some parents, obedience means a prompt response, without murmuring or complaining. For others, it means anything but that. Some parents count 1-2-3. Others count 8-"9-9.5-9 3/4... I mean it, I'll say 10..." Whatever obedience looks like in your home, try to improve upon it.

Believe it or not, it is possible to give instruction and receive back a prompt, courteous response. Of all the practical helps we can offer, this one has undoubtedly the most impact on a child's willingness and ability to comply the first time. Require your children to respond to your instructions with a 'Yes, Mom' or 'Yes, Dad.' Such a response does not leave you second guessing. You do not have to ask repeatedly, "Did you hear me?" which only undermines your leadership. Upon saying, "James in five minutes Mom is going to ask you to put away your puzzle." Mom should hear back, "Yes, Mom."

Why a verbal response? Number one, it is the child's acknowledgement that in fact he heard you. A "Yes, Mom" lets you know that your child is either committing himself to obedience by taking the appropriate action or to disobedience by avoiding the task asked of him. But there is no question tha the heard.

How does a verbal response produce obedience? A parent's initial instruction draws a line in the sand. "Honey, Mom wants you to pick up your crayons right now, please." She should stick with that. If she repeats her instruction, she draws a second line in the sand. It is a small retreat. "Did you hear me? Pick up your crayons." Another repeat is yet a greater retreat. Soon, mom's on the floor either begging the child or picking up the crayons.

But, in contrast, when your child gives back to you a "Yes, Mom," an amazing thing happens. Your child hears himself commit to obey. He draws the line in the sand himself. There's just something about hearing himself agree to something that elicits an internal compulsion for compliance.

"Yes, Mom" or "Yes, Dad" stops conflict at the point of instructions. Parents experience more frustration at times of instruction than in any other single activity in parenting. Why? Because it is at this point tha tchildren decide to obey or disobey. Disobedience brings conflict, and usually the repeating parent comes out losing. Once repeating starts, obedience is lost and frustration wells up. And that is with just one child.

The antidote? Never get out of the instruction phase without an agreement to obey. An up-front "Yes, Mom" virtually eliminates the problem.

Some instructions will be very specific, especially with two, three, and four-year-olds. "Bradon," one mother called out, "do not play with the bird food. Say, 'Yes, Mommy.'" Bradon's two-year-old hands were wrist deep in the sunflower mix. If mom had only given the instructions: "Bradon, stop playing with the bird food," his little hands would still be sifting seed today. But because of the "Yes, Mom" training, he replied and then drew his little fingers out of the bag. Is this simply a little boy with incredible self-control? No, it is a developmental dynamic associated with a verbal "Yes, Mommy" response.

You know tha tmoment immediately after the point of instruction, when you can see a question in your little guy's eye: "Hmm, do I really wan tto obey this woman - right now?" Now you don't have to hold hyour breath wondering if he's going to comply or not. In that moment, you only need to say, "Bradon, I need to hear "Yes, Mommy." His response moves him beyond the moment of a wrong decision...

Initially, if you have a child that is used to ignoring you, you might have to hold her little face up to you while giving instruction. Mke it a standard practice to get your child to look you in the eyes when speaking. Eye contact is a focusing skill and helps any child process instruction, and processing instruction is half the battle in etting a child to follow through promptly. The child that looks around the room rather than at mom or dad when receiving instruction tends to struggle more with compliance.

How to begin: When introducing this "Yes, Mom" and "Yes, Dad" concept, start by sitting the family down and explaining what will be required. You can even make a game of it.

A father told us that one afternoon he sat down with his four-year-old daughter to have this talk. He instructed her to first listen for dad's voice, and then upon hearing him call her name, she was to say, "Yes, Daddy," and immediately come to him. In return, she got a big hug from dad. Over the course of that afternoon and evening, he played this little game twenty times and she responded twenty times with a "Yes, Daddy." That evening, when tucking the child in bed, he told her, "Starting tomorrow, whenever Mom or Dad calls, you're to say, "Yes, Mom" or "Yes, Dad" and come immediately, like we played today."

This little exercise has worked with many families. What makes it work is the resolve behind the parent's instruction.

One side note. If children are going to respond to parents in kindness, parents should do the same for their children. If we are truly governed by the first principle ("Do to others what you would have them do to you"), then we will treat others (including our children) the way we wnat to be treated.

Recently, one of the Ezzo grandchildren paid a visit. After finishing some school work, Ashley called her grandmother. "Grammy?" Anne Marie answered, "Yes, Ashley." For children, a "Yes, Mom" is a moral requirement. That is because they are in the process of becoming moral. For adults, "Yes, Ashley," is a moral courtesy, given by one who has reached maturity." When your children call you, do you answer, "What do you want?" Or do they receive a courteous reply? Kindness is never outgrown.[/size]

Excerpt taken from: Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam, M.D., On Becoming Child Wise: Parenting Your Child from Three to Seven Years. Sisters: Multnomah Publishers, 1999, pp. 118-119, 122-125.