how to discipline a 3 year old who doesnt listen
Parenting tips for dealing with 4-year-olds require a lot of patience and effective communication. These ideas include making eye contact, giving immediate consequences, being consistent, keeping it simple, staying calm, and others. Its a common refrain from parents, My preschooler just doesnt listen. Four-year-olds are active and interested in the world around them. They need to explore and try new things, so its common for children this age to test limits and it can seem as if they are not listening to mom and dad. Before determining that a child truly isnt listening, its important to ensure that medical conditions that could affect a childs hearing or comprehension have been ruled out. As long as a doctor says nothing is going on that could affect a childs ability to listen, pay attention, or comprehend, consider what not listening means. Sometimes, not listening does mean the child is ignoring you, but other times the child may simply be tired, hungry, or not feeling well and they do not yet have the language skills to effectively communicate their feelings and needs. Children may appear to be ignoring parents when they are actually frustrated, perhaps with their siblings, bedtime, or chores. Children this age dont always know how to handle everything they are experiencing. Children may also choose not to listen as a way to assert power and express a need for more control and decision-making abilities in their lives. Of course, a 4-year-old cant always make decisions for themselves, but sometimes parents can allow the child choices to help them learn to think critically and feel they have more control. Discipline is not the same as punishment or spanking. Its about setting rules and boundaries to keep children safe or to learn appropriate behaviors. It involves following through on consequences when the child breaks the rules. Here are some tips to discipline preschoolerswho dont listen:
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