During the second year of life, children become little explorers, exploring the environment as well as the limits of your patience by touching and playing with anything they can touch. One year olds are difficult to discipline because they do not understand cause and effect, but at this stage, some disciplinary action must be taken. Start with Step 1 to learn more.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Part 1: Setting the Rules
Step 1. Understand your child
Most one-year-olds have the same characteristics, but each child is unique. To properly discipline your child, you need to understand his behavior and learn to predict his reactions. Pay attention to what your child likes and doesn't like.
Step 2. Make the rules simple
A one-year-old won't be able to follow a lot of complex rules, so keep the rules simple and safe. Have reasonable expectations: your child is basically a baby.
Step 3. Introduce the child to consequences
It's hard to explain causes and consequences to a one-year-old, but now is the time to start trying. Explain the positive consequences, and reward good behavior. Also, explain the negative consequences, and punish (in an age-appropriate way) bad behavior.
Step 4. Stick to consistency
A one year old child will not learn about the rules if the rules change from day to day. Follow these rules consistently.
Both parents need to enforce the rules if they want a one-year-old to learn them. Make sure you and your partner have the same understanding about this
Method 2 of 3: Part 2: Disciplining Children
Step 1. Emphasize learning over punishment
One-year-olds do not understand the concept of punishment because they do not understand cause and effect. However, with lots of repetition, they can begin to understand the rules and learn.
Step 2. Teach children how to interact with other people
At this stage, children can begin to learn that their behavior affects others. For example, with repetition, a one-year-old can learn that throwing food makes you angry. Explain this dynamic as often as possible in a calm tone of voice.
Step 3. Emphasize safety
Since one-year-olds cannot be expected to follow many rules, you should emphasize rules relating to safety. Describe unsafe situations when they arise, and set rules. One-year-olds can begin to learn that rules relating to safety are non-negotiable.
Step 4. Emphasize positive behavior
Children often learn more from positive encouragement than punishment. Praise your child whenever he is behaving well or doing something nice. One-year-olds can learn to repeat behaviors that make their parents happy.
Step 5. Listen to your child
Already able to talk or not, a one-year-old child will definitely communicate with you. Pay attention to the child's mood and behavior, and change your approach as needed.
For a better way of communicating with a one-year-old, try looking him in the eye and paying attention to his cues. Also try using some simple sign language
Step 6. Create a child-friendly environment
Get rid of the things he shouldn't touch. Your efforts will surely be in vain if you expect your child not to touch the dozens of items within their reach.
Step 7. Offer alternatives
If your child touches something that shouldn't be touched or does something against the rules, don't punish him immediately, offer an alternative: the child's attention is easily distracted with another interesting and safe toy. Punish a child only if the bad behavior is repeated.
Step 8. Explain the reasons behind the rule
A one-year-old may not be able to fully understand you, but you should still convey the facts of why something shouldn't be done. Frequently repeat this explanation to the child.
Step 9. Keep your cool
However frustrated you are, take a deep breath and stay calm. Your child will be more prepared to hear what you have to say if you are calm and rational.
Step 10. Choose which behavior to blame
Discipline is important, but a one-year-old cannot be expected to follow too many rules. You have to be consistent with the rules when it comes to security, but know that you can't always "win" with everything else. Leftovers on a child's clothes or on the floor won't hurt anyone, and neither will a cake or a piece of candy from time to time.
Method 3 of 3: Part 3: Avoiding Common Troubles
Step 1. Try to predict and meet the child's needs
It's hard to expect good behavior from a one-year-old, but it will be impossible if your child is very tired, hungry, thirsty, or restless. Anticipate your child's needs, and you'll have a better chance of witnessing good behavior from him.
Step 2. Fix the situation that makes your child uncomfortable
If you pay attention, you'll notice that certain situations make a one-year-old nervous and make bad behavior more likely. Avoid this situation whenever possible, and if there's no way to do it, try to help by bringing her favorite toy or keeping the child busy with a song or a snack.
Step 3. Stop screaming
One-year-olds don't really understand cause and effect, and screaming will only frighten him and make him nervous. Your child will learn to fear you, but will not necessarily learn how to behave.
Step 4. Don't call your child "naughty"
Highlight his good behavior, and if you need to call your child's attention a bad behavior, make sure you don't call your child "naughty." One-year-olds are still learning what the world is like. They're not "bad"-they just don't know better yet.
Step 5. Say “no” once in a while
In order for the word “no” to have maximum impact, save it only when it is absolutely necessary-for example, when your child does something dangerous. Under normal circumstances, arrange your words into positive sentences: say, "color on paper!" than "No! Don't paint on the walls!”
Step 6. Give your child plenty of time and attention when he is behaving well
If you only pay attention to your child when he or she does something wrong or something dangerous, then your child will learn that that's how you get your attention. Take time to learn, play, and explore with your child when he is well-behaved.
Tips
- One year olds can be annoying at times. If you feel like you're losing your cool, try to take a break. Take a deep breath, and calm down. Yelling at the child will only make the situation worse.
- Remember that toddler age will pass! Preschool-aged children will be much better able to obey the rules.
