Toddler Discipline: Kill ‘Em with Kindness

Welcome back to Babylicious! Thanks for visiting again. If you've enjoyed reading my blog, subscribe to my RSS feed to get regular updates on what's new at Babylicious.

Here’s a tip I recently discovered…  Actually, it’s not really a new trick.  In fact, it’s an old trick I’m sure many of us have pulled in the office to deal with those difficult colleagues who are nasty to us.  The funny thing is, it works with children, too.  Or rather, it worked with Gavin…

They say when someone is nasty to you, don’t get mad – kill them with kindness.  If that person is any kind of human being, (s)he’ll soon be embarrassed for being nasty and let up.

Although that is where the theory originated from, I have to hand it to my son for teaching it to me.  It is a slightly different application, but the concept is still the same. I’ve noticed that whenever I’m mad or upset, he will completely disarm me by saying something like, “Mummy, I love you so much!”

Taking a leaf out of my son’s book, I started doing the same back to him. Whenever he refuses to do something I ask him to – for instance, take a bath – I’ll play the “who’s my cutie” game. I ask him to come and give me a hug and start asking him, “Who’s my cutie?” and “Who’s my darling?” and “Who’s my precious?” Well, you get the drift. Naturally, Gavin will reply that he is. While we’re playing the game, I’ll start undressing him for the bath and he rarely resists.

Okay, I realise I might get shot down for this tactic because it sounds a lot like “conditional love”, but it does work and I don’t only play the game to get him to do things he doesn’t want to do. I still play this game spontaneously with him without any expectations. So does that count?

Popularity: 1% [?]

Other posts that might interest you:

• The Discipline Armoury: Tip 15 – Make it Brief, Make it Clear
• The Discipline Armoury: Tip 11 – Positive Words
• The Discipline Armoury: Tip 12 – When/Then, Now/Later, You May/After You
• The Discipline Armoury: Tip 20 – Be Firm
• The Discipline Armoury: Tip 21 – Pick Your Battles

What is RSS? How do I subscribe via RSS?