When it comes to the discipline of toddlers, consistency is very important if they are to learn right from wrong. Even so, many parents in Kenya have a hard time being consistent leaving their children confused. Toddlers that cannot predict the consequence of their behaviour will probably continue to misbehave causing trouble both within and outside their home.
Some of the things Kenyan parents should do to remain consistent with the discipline of their toddlers are:
• Be patient – Correcting bad behaviour takes time and for toddlers, it may take much more time than anticipated. Normally, it will take two to three weeks of consistent discipline on one issue for your toddler to do the right thing. Parents are advised to mentally prepare for the long journey ahead to avoid temptations of giving up.
• Prioritise – Most times, toddlers demonstrate more than one bad behaviour at the same time. This makes it hard for parents to decide on which one to correct and which one to tackle later. To avoid getting overwhelmed, tackle one behaviour at a time and give it full attention before moving to another one.
• Ask for support – Toddlers will always resist any attempt to be disciplined and may try to get support from one parent from another. It is important to enlist support from your partner, house help, teachers and other relatives in maintaining consistency in discipline. Most times, when toddlers realise they have no option but to change their behaviour they change for the better.
