Discipline and children: birth to 12 years

Primary school aged children understand much more about themselves, and about rules and limits. They start to see things from another’s point of view.

It can be helpful to do the following things:

• talk with your child about a wide range of topics - listen to their views and be willing to discuss different opinions, rather than forcing your ideas on them
• try to be in step with other parents of children the same age - if you are too far away from what most parents do around discipline, you may find it hard to get your child to cooperate.
• teach them how to work out ways to solve problems - it’s an important step towards learning self-discipline
• explain to them about adult behaviours and feelings, and why you react as you do.