Alternatives to Punishment

Better behavior without punishment is possible. It takes commitment, connection and a focus on cooperation. Children naturally follow the guidance of those they trust. Children also want to learn and grow, especially when they feel connected to you. The alternatives to punishment you find in this section will focus on real solutions and learning tools, to help children feel more connected, capable and cooperative.

Why take a positive approach to discipline and find alternatives to punishment? Studies show that children that are raised with inflexible, punishment based discipline have lower self-esteem and struggle with making good decisions on their own. The alternatives to punishment in this section are all aimed at helping you find the confidence you need when setting limits and boundaries. And keeping a loving, respectful, thriving relationship with your child.

Why Preschoolers Know Much Better Than They Behave

by Positive Parenting Connection

Discover five discipline strategies for preschoolers you can count on. Parents are routinely confused when their preschooler (aged 2 to 5) promises they won’t hit or scream only to turn around and hit or scream again. Part of the problem is young children don’t think twice nor contemplate the consequences of their actions in the…

Positive Parenting: How To Encourage Children to Follow Your Guidance

by Ariadne Brill

Skip time out and other hurtful “discipline” techniques: Children learn right from wrong, not because they were sent to the corner alone, but because they begin to understand expectations and situations, and because they have enough information that will ultimately help them make better decisions.

How to Discipline Children Effectively without Quick Hacks and Punishments

by Ariadne Brill

Quick and clever discipline hacks tend to fail or make unwanted behaviors even worse. Discover here better, more effective and developmentally appropriate ways to discipline your child. Counting methods, sticker charts, automatic timers, fuzzy pom-poms and rubber bands…good discipline? These are some of the popular recommendations for dealing with misbehavior. If you tried all the…

How I Helped My Son Understand His Misbehavior Without Relying on Punishments

by Ariadne Brill

When my son was four, I took him on a day trip to sled and play in the snow. It was a beautiful cold yet sunny day. Up on a mountain, with the alps in the background we climbed up and sled down a hill some 25 times in a row. When I was a feeling…

Discipline for Young Children: 12 Alternatives to Time Outs

by Ariadne Brill

Here are twelve alternatives to time outs that give parents and children a chance to address choices and situations with the intention to offer guidance while maintaining a positive, respectful and peaceful connection. These alternatives are mostly geared towards children aged 1 to 6 years but also work well beyond that too.

How To Reduce Power Struggles and Find More Happiness In The Holiday Season

by Ariadne Brill

A store cashier asked my daughter recently, “Are you being a good girl for Santa?” And then a few minutes later in the parking garage an elderly couple asked her same question. After a quick smile she turned to me. Her face was all twisted up, eyes looking far away with a hint of overwhelm. The…

Time Out vs. Time In: What’s the difference?

by Ariadne Brill

What is the difference between a time out and time in? Is one better than the other? Sometimes positive discipline tools can seem similar to the traditional discipline tactics. Often people say it’s just semantics. What sets the positive tools apart from punitive discipline is not only the way in which they are presented to…

How to correct your child’s ‘bad’ behaviour with positive parenting

by Ariadne Brill

Remind your child that you are their ally, you are on their side. Even when you are saying no or stopping unhelpful behaviours – show how much you care. When my son was four years old, he was sweet, funny and quite mischievous. Just a moment unsupervised and something was likely to get opened, spilled…

The Best Discipline Strategy When Children Become Aggressive

by Ariadne Brill

Inside: How To Use Positive Discipline To Respond to Aggressive Behaviors in Toddlers and Young Children It’s quite normal for toddlers and preschoolers to struggle with aggressive behavior from time to time. When your child acts aggressively it is typically a sign that she is feeling upset, scared or overwhelmed. Many parents worry that aggressive…

Positive Parenting Tools: Time In vs. Time Out

by Ariadne Brill

Most parents that use time out do so with good intentions and sometimes, a time out can give parents and children a chance to take a break from each other to cool off. However, non punitive parenting tools such as Time In are really effective in helping children develop life long skills such as regulating emotions and making decisions. It’s a mistaken but deeply ingrained notion that children need to feel bad about their behavior in order to change it. Learn more about time in and time out.

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