Be a good parent (cont.)
73. Experts say to clearly delineate between the behavior and the children when it comes to correcting them. Point out that their behavior is bad, not that they are.
74. Stay calm. Dr. Spock is good, but Mr. Spock may be even better: When faced with the need to correct or discipline a child, do it without emotion, like Leonard Nimoy’s alien character from “Star Trek.”
The difference between you and a screaming toddler is your ability to think things through rationally and without getting upset. It’s the best tool you’ll ever have as a parent. Children are little intellectual sponges, and will sop up your actions and reactions and adopt many of them for themselves. If you demonstrate a person in utter control of his or her emotions, everyone around you at the grocery store will appreciate it and your children will be wise between their ears and beyond their years.
75. As soon as practical, start giving your kids safe and acceptable choices and allow them to make decisions. It will teach them how to think things through and live with consequences, and increases the likelihood they will accept and even embrace the things that they can, should and must do. Any decision that a person has input into — even a little person — is a decision they will most likely not complain about.