Create a Well Disciplined Child From the Start

01, 04, 2013
/ Category Parenting, The First Year
/ Posted By Christy
/ 1 Comment.

A mother begins a connection with her baby, while he or she is in the womb. Any mother who has had a child can explain, that carrying a child is an amazing feeling. Those first few kicks, jabs, punches, to getting hiccups several times a day, and those nights where you can’t get comfortable. Once you have the baby, the real job as a parent begins. This tiny human being is dependent on mom and dad to fulfill all of their needs.

Create a Deep Connection with Your Child

Some children are easier to discipline than others. Do you want to raise a child that listens to you and is well mannered? Of course you do, who wants to have a out of control child tagging along behind you as you are frantically trying to leave the store because of their bad behavior. William and Martha Sears came to the conclusion that “the deeper the parent-child connection, the easier discipline will be.” (Sears & Sears, 15) It is important to begin developing a deep connection with your child once they are born, so that they quickly learn to feel secure, safe, and know that you are going to meet all of their needs.

Dad’s Need to Create a Deep Connection as Well

Dad’s often times feel left out because they don’t feel the same connection that a mother feels to her baby while in the womb. A dad can feel the baby moving in mom’s belly and can talk to the baby but they don’t have a 24/7 connection to the baby. If the mother decides to breastfeed the baby, dad may feel left out in the bonding process because he is unable to feed the baby. However, there are other ways that dad can bond with the baby and create that deep connection. For example:

hold the baby while mom takes a break
bring the baby to mom for those middle of the night feedings
change a few diapers
give the baby a bath
play with the baby
create a night time ritual

Meeting Your Child’s Needs Quickly Builds Trust

When your baby cries, it is important to respond quickly to their cries. A quick response lets your baby know that you are there and that you can be trusted. Trust is important to a child emotional well-being and helps develop a sense of security. This is beneficial as they begin to grow up, they already know that you can be trusted to meet their needs and nurture them in a loving manner.

Baby Led Weaning

If your baby is breastfed, allow them to make the decision to stop breastfeeding. Older babies often times view nursing as a source of comfort and trust, rather than nursing for nutritional purposes. I know some parents are objected to this method, if that is the case, then you can find another way to meet your child’s emotional needs and maintain the sense of trust that is achieved while nursing.

References

Sears, M.D. William & Sears, R.N, Martha (1995). The Discipline Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Better-Behaved Child – From Birth to Age 10. Canada: Little, Brown & Company.

Post Tagged with attachment parenting, create a deep connection with your child, how to raise a well mannered child

One Response to “Create a Well Disciplined Child From the Start”

Steph~ says:

January 8, 2013 at 6:34 pm

Christy,

I SO value and appreciate ALL you do to help encourage and educate parents/families through your continued dedication to “uplifting familes” with your passion for helping others.

This is such an important topic as sadly in today’s world it is unfortunately evident, from daily observations of out of control children everywhere we go, schools, grocery stores, doctor’s offices, movie theateres, any/all places we go, this is an important topic many parents may not have the confidence and/or or support to focus on/deal with.

I also greatly value how you always build in tips for dad to be involved in all family matters, this is so important as we know; even in blended families, as you know, it is very important for dad’s to be involved with bonding with the children as otherwise trust is not built as you so well share in this article/all the EXCELLENT articles you write.

Cheers to you for your 24/7 dedication to your family and all those you reach out to help. You are a daily blessing.

With gratitude, Steph~ @ohmyjet

Reply