The Discipline Gradient : Choosing the Right Discipline for Your Child's Age and Personality

Parents can teach self-discipline through discipline, using techniques that encourage self-esteem and positive decision-making, and those that shape and guide behavior. No discipline strategy works with every child, at every age, and for every occasion. The Discipline Gradient matches discipline techniques to your real-life needs, taking into account your child's age, personality, self-esteem and the severity of the problem. This 270-page book shows how, when and where to use each technique, and offers plenty of practical examples, exercises and diagrams, so you can put the information to work right away. The discipline gradient is a scale which rates the major discipline techniques according to their ability to teach internal controls, or self-discipline. Techniques listed near the beginning of the gradient prevent discipline problems from occurring in the first place, or use communication to solve problems. Prevention and communication techniques not only teach self-discipline; they also increase self-esteem and encourage warm family relationships. However, sometimes prevention and communication techniques do not adequately resolve a problem. In these cases, techniques farther up the gradient are able to change behavior quickly. Punishment techniques are not taught in this book, but they are included and discussed to show their position as part of the whole range of discipline techniques. Another chapter offers suggestions on how to deal with anger and stress-both ours and our children's. The first two chapters give an overview of parenting concerns, self-esteem and child development. The central portion of the book outlines specific discipline techniques. Each strategy is explained separately, including why the technique is valuable and how and when to use the technique for children of different ages. Within the descriptions of each technique are suggestions to individually shape that technique to specific problems you may be experiencing with your child.