Building Strong Connections with Your Children

In practice, mindful discipline means approaching each situation with curiosity.

Why did my child do that? Usually, the answer has to do with emotions and goals.

What emotion were they trying to express? What purpose were they trying to do? What lesson do I want them to learn right now? How should I deliver that lesson? This answer may vary depending on the answer to the first question. This answer will also depend on the specifics of the situation.

Please refrain from using bribery or threats to make our children believe what we desire.

Many parents misunderstand discipline to mean punishment.

When parents are not engaged, they often resort to two common punishments: time-outs and spanking. This usually escalates kids’ strong emotions rather than helping them calm down. Spanking, like time-outs, often escalates dramatic situations.

When a child’s primitive brain is engaged, it is difficult for her to process the experience, leading to continued acting out.

Discipline is about teaching children to improve their behavior. It has two goals: In the short term, it aims to establish close cooperation with children by redirecting them to positive behavior. In the long term, it helps children develop skills like empathy…