Parenting Tweens with Positive Discipline
As a parent, it can be difficult to know how to best discipline your tween. You want to set boundaries and expectations but you also don’t want to damage your relationship with them. That’s where positive discipline comes in. Positive discipline is a parenting technique that focuses on teaching and guiding your child, rather than punishing them. Keep reading to learn more about how you can use positive discipline with your tween.
What is Positive Discipline?
Positive discipline is a parenting technique that emphasizes teaching and guidance over punishment. With positive discipline, parents work to establish rules and limits while also providing their children with the support and understanding they need to grow and thrive. This type of discipline is based on the idea that children are best motivated by a sense of belonging and connection, rather than fear or intimidation.
Positive discipline is based on the idea that tweens are more likely to respond positively to rewards than punishment. With positive discipline, you would praise your tween for good behavior instead of punishing them for bad behavior. For example, if your tween gets good grades, you might praise them by taking them out for ice cream or letting them stay up an extra hour on Friday night. On the other hand, if they get in trouble at school, you might have a conversation with them about why their behavior was not acceptable and what they can do differently in the future.
Positive discipline can be an effective way to manage tween behavior because it encourages good behavior while also teaching tweens how to manage their own emotions and behaviors. Additionally, positive discipline helps to build trust and communication between parents and tweens. If you’re struggling to discipline your tween in a way that is both effective and respectful, positive discipline may be worth a try.
How Can I Use Positive Discipline with My Tween?
There are a few things to keep in mind if you want to use positive discipline with your tween. First, remember that rewards should be given based on good behavior, not simply for following rules. For example, if your tween does their chores without being asked, that is something that deserves praise. However, if they only do their chores because they know they will get punished if they don’t, that is not something that should be rewarded.
Second, make sure that the rewards you give are actually things that your tween wants. There’s no point in giving them a reward that they don’t care about, it will just frustrate them and make them less likely to respond positively to future rewards.
Third, be consistent with your use of positive discipline. If you only praise your tween sometimes or only give rewards when it’s convenient for you, they will quickly catch on and stop responding positively to the reinforcement.
Finally, don’t forget to have realistic expectations, positive reinforcement won’t work miracles overnight but it can help improve your tweens overall behavior over time.
Practicing positive discipline with your tween can be a great way to set limits while still maintaining a strong relationship with them. By being clear about your expectations, providing consistent consequences, and praising good behavior, you can help your tween learn how to make good choices while still feeling supported and loved.
