Discipline it’s not like it used to be. When I was growing up discipline was usually given with a wooden spoon. Sometimes it was with anything mom could get her hands on. With grandma it was always the switch from the tree outback and if you didn’t bring in a big enough one she go out and get a branch. We did what we were told to do or we were disciplined that’s just the way it was. We didn’t get choices we didn’t get presents for doing the right thing we were expected to do the right thing and if we didn’t we got disciplined. Which usually meant you were going to get hit with something. Atleast that was my experience. Others may of had the same type of discipline and others may have had different types of discipline.

Nowadays discipline is entirely different talking about discipline today because it seems to be something we’re struggling with.
Let’s talk about discipline today we are raising Our grandchildren. We are currently raising a 2 year old and a six year old. We raised our other granddaughter for a while she was 3to 4 years old.The real problems are with the six-year-old. We are trying to establish a discipline that will work for him.
A little background this child had not been socialized he had been kept home usually locked in a room. When he did go to daycare he went in time for dinner and then he was put to bed. So he was not socialized when we got custody. Monkey doesn’t know how to act with other people. He doesn’t know what’s acceptable and what’s not acceptable. I’m pretty sure he has never been disciplined in a correct manner before coming to us.

I know this because I watch my daughter at visitations and what she does is yells at the child to do what she wants them to do and when they do something they are not supposed to do she thinks it’s funny and she laughs . I have watched her threaten the children with I’m not sure what but she does this count to three thing it goes like this 1……2…..3 and then she does nothing and she starts over 1….2 and she says don’t make me have to say three then she’ll say three and She did nothing.

Our struggles have been to implement a discipline to help the children learn what’s acceptable and unacceptable both at home and at school.
So far we have discovered that our monkey will work for time on his tablet. He knows if he gets in trouble at school he will not get his tablet time when he gets home. This seems to work most of the time.

With princess we have found that she does better with choices. She’s very stubborn and wants to do things on her own enless you want her to and then she wants help. She’s very independent when she wants to be, did I mention she was stubborn. In the beginning we were having meltdowns because I wanted her to wear a certain pair of shoes or a certain pair of shorts and everything was a fight. I learned if I set out two of everything and she can choose which one she wants to wear we’ve given her power. Her power was what was taken away from her when she was living at mommy’s house. Just by giving her a choice she has stopped the meltdowns because now she feels like she has control over something.

We’ve also added a treasure box. This works with all of our littles. If monkey has a good day which means getting to school, good at school, and good when he gets home. This means no major meltdowns no touching anybody else, following directions etc. Then he gets to choose something from the treasure box.

The treasure box is filled with toys from the dollar store some were a whole dollar and others were more than one thing in the pack for a dollar. We put stickers, little plastic animals, bubbles, beach balls, nightlight, a painting set, a Barbie, a stuffed bear, puzzles and things like that.

Another thing that works for the children is offering a trip or a treat if they’re good. Such as a trip to Dairy Queen for ice cream, to go to the pool, to the park or to the splash pad. They really enjoy getting out of the house and doing things that a normal children do so this is a great motivator for them to be on their best behavior. I just have to remind myself sometimes that they don’t always know what good behavior is.

We constantly use positive reinforcements when we see them doing something that’s appropriate behavior. We make sure we point it out like I like the way you’re sitting in the chair, I like the way you eat your supper with your fork, I like the way you were sharing your toys, or I like the way you follow the directions that the teacher gave you. This is a great motivator for children who are looking for attention, which these children are. They’re getting attention for doing the positive things for doing good behavior not bad behavior. They had gotten used to the only time that they got attention was when they acted up so we’re trying very hard to ignore the bad behavior and accentuate the positive.

I am constantly on the lookout for other ideas. If you have ideas or things that are working for you please post in the comments. Also if you have any questions about our methods and techniques please ask.

Thanks for following along as we raise these beautiful little souls.

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