During the first year of life, your baby does not understand what discipline is. Sure, she can get into things and create mischief, but she is not yet old enough to know right from wrong.
However, there are things you can begin to do now that will introduce her to right and wrong. For example, if your 10 month old is pulling on the drapes and you don’t want her to do this, tell her, “No” with a firm voice and immediately provide a distraction. Babies have a very short attention span. Providing the distraction will make her forget all about the drapes.
Sometime around your child’s first birthday, she will begin to understand that certain behaviours are unwanted. This is the time to begin using discipline that makes your child responsible for her actions. If she intentionally throws her dinner on the floor, have her help pick it up while explaining to her that throwing food on the floor is not good and she must help clean it up.
Positive reinforcement is one of the most important parts of effective discipline. No child wants to only know when they are doing badly. Like adults, your child also needs to be told how good she is.
However, there are things you can begin to do now that will introduce her to right and wrong. For example, if your 10 month old is pulling on the drapes and you don’t want her to do this, tell her, “No” with a firm voice and immediately provide a distraction. Babies have a very short attention span. Providing the distraction will make her forget all about the drapes.
Sometime around your child’s first birthday, she will begin to understand that certain behaviours are unwanted. This is the time to begin using discipline that makes your child responsible for her actions. If she intentionally throws her dinner on the floor, have her help pick it up while explaining to her that throwing food on the floor is not good and she must help clean it up.
Positive reinforcement is one of the most important parts of effective discipline. No child wants to only know when they are doing badly. Like adults, your child also needs to be told how good she is.
