Helping your child know the difference from what is right and wrong. Will help them make better choices in their future.

Talking to a child is better than talking at a child.
When you sit down and look into their eyes. You can tell if they are understanding what you are saying.
Remember to keep it short and exact. Children only hear about 15 percent of what you are saying to them. So the first few things you say are very important.

Never degrade your child for something they have done wrong. Let them know you are unhappy that they did it. But let them know you love them and know they can do better next time.

There is a thin line between discipline and punishment. Parents who speak to their children when they are angry are often in danger or crossing that line.

Time outs are still one of the best ways to calm everyone down. You can always deal with the issue a little later when everyone is calm.

Use examples. Teach your child to know right from wrong by asking them what they think is the right thing to do.

Make sure everyone is on the same wave link as you are. When disciplining your child. Let baby sitters, grandparents, and other family members know how you are handling time outs and other factors dealing with disciplining your child. It will save some time and energy if everyone knows what you are doing. The child then will not be confused.

Remember time outs should be age appropriate. A one year old should not spend more than 2 minutes in time out. A good rule is to never put them in time out for longer than twice the time of their age.

This allows for their time out to not last longer than their learned attention span. Of course this rule will have to be changed for ADHD children.

The most important thing to remember is to never try and discipline your child when you are angry. Talking to your child and looking into their little eyes will help you know if they are comprehending what you are saying. Talking to long, to loud or yelling will not teach your child good discipline.

Try to remember you are speaking with a child. Not an adult or older teen ager. A few simple rules can save you and your child so much grief and heartache.