Description of discipline technique:
I learned this technique during a play group I conducted in my home when my daughter was a toddler. Young children want to know that you mean what you say, and say what you mean. Rather than give short commands like "stop that" or "don't do that," give your child specific directions. Such as "please sit down on your bottom, put your feet on the floor and get off the coffee table." Then walk to the child and help them do all the steps. Tell the child "your feet belong on the floor, not the table, it is not safe." If there are other children in the room you can be assured that you will have to repeat the whole process with each and every child.

When it was time for my daughter to go to bed, I would read a book and then say "where is your head, now where is your bed, please put your head on your bed." It took a few days of staying in the room and reinforcing what I wanted, but pretty soon all I had to say was "where is your head now where is your bed" and she would lay down.

Young children have a need to know that you will follow through with what you say. They want to know that the adult in their life cares enough to intervene at any given moment. When you are teaching a specific behavior state, give your instructions one time and stop whatever you are doing to reinforce or show your child what you want them to do. When the child sees that his behavior is significant enough to cause you to interrupt what you are doing and attend to him, he is reassured of his importance in your life. If his behavior is that important to you then it will become a natural reaction for your child to follow your directions the first time you give them.

Appropriate age group(s):
Toddler to teenager

Other suggestions or comments:
Just when you think you have a behavior conquered and your child hasn't even thought about climbing on the coffee table for months, you will turn around at your busiest moment to find him dancing on top of it. Don't panic. He just wants to know you still care. Do stop what you are doing and go through the whole routine again.

Keep a sense of humor and the day goes a lot smoother.