Fodder Up!: Part VIII - The Disciplined Dad

As a father, if you learn one valuable lesson from your kids it is this: before you can discipline a child you must first learn to discipline yourself. If you look at your relationship with your child as a battle, you have already lost. You can't negotiate with a baby. And it's futile to think your posturing is going to help you gain any ground with a toddler. When it comes to parenting, might is not right, and force won't get you far, so you need to be disciplined in your approach. You must be tactical, practical, and unflappable if you ever hope to come out on top, but it is always better to rule by example than by an iron fist.  This is Fodder Up! Today's lesson: 
 Disciplining Dad.


The Discipline Cheat Sheet:

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It is no secret that children like to push the boundaries of acceptable behavior, and pushing their boundaries means pushing your buttons. It's all part of the learning curve, for both you and your child. It is up to you, as the parent, to learn right from wrong (the proper way to discipline a child), and then, and only then will you be able to pass those lessons on to your children. 

We call this the Discipline Cheat Sheet, your guide to disciplining your child. You can call it your salvation.
 Discipline For Dummies Daddies:

• http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/documents/discipline.pdf
• http://www.durham.ca/departments/health/family_health/parenting/positiveDiscipline/positiveDisciplineResource.pdf

Specific Subjects:
Surviving Temper Tantrums-

• http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/documents/temper.pdf

Overcoming Selective Listening-

• http://www.supernanny.co.uk/Advice/-/Parenting-Skills/-/Routine-and-Teamwork/How-to-Get-Your-Child-to-Listen.aspx

The Back End of Spanking-

• http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/discipline-behavior/spanking/10-reasons-not-hit-your-child

Timing Your Time Outs-

• http://life.familyeducation.com/discipline/parenting/29454.html
• http://childcare.about.com/od/behaviors/qt/timeouts.htm

Final Thoughts: Corporal Punishment

• Corporal Punishment- Discipline By: Dr. Asa Don Brown, P.H.D., C.C.C., N.C.C.M.

Now, no one is saying that you won't have a few hiccups along the way, but at least you are armed with all the information you will ever need to stand your ground and correct your child's ill-chosen conduct in the most positive and proactive of ways. But, when in doubt, it never hurts to consult an expert...