Godly principles for discipline play an important role in raising your toddlers. A toddler is a child from 3 to 5 years of age. During this stage, they tend to make discoveries; they learn fast and easily remember things and begin to know how to reason out. It is on this phase that parents must be careful on their words and actions as the toddler already understands and mimic what they do.
As the Scripture tells us in Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it", so as parents must begin implementing rules and giving discipline to the toddler during this stage but parents must see to it that the system is being followed consistently. Toddlers are keen observers and when they notice that the boundaries are not set firmly, they abuse it and it becomes a habit, which in turn becomes their behavior when they grow up.
This is a known problem to most parents and there are contributing factors why toddlers behave in this unpleasant manner. One big factor is less time spent by parents with their children to work and children are left with their nannies, grandparents, or relatives, who sometimes do not follow the rules parents have set for their kids. This causes the toddlers to run to whoever they spent most of the time with to be pacified, when parents start correcting them. Other factors are socio-cultural when toddlers met kids from different rearing and have adapted the behavior of their playmates but the guidance and teaching of the parents should always be there.
It is important that both parents are in agreement in administering discipline to their children so as the other people living in the same house must be supportive to let the toddler know that you are serious and every one else around him too. This will build his character and will establish in him the attitude of keeping his word and doing what is right. Both parents must plan and put into writing the set of rules so that everyone will see and be reminded just as the Bible teaches us to do in Deuteronomy 11:20 to write them on the door frames of our houses and on our gates and also, mention it all the time to the toddler to memorize and be kept in his heart.
But what are these rules? First, toddlers should know that they are significant and loved but they are the last on the family list. As Pastor Ray Clemente teaches on his seminars on Biblical Parenting, the child must understand that he is not the boss and he must know that the order in the family should be God first, who by His power have bound them together, next in line is the father, then the mother, and the LAST is him. Second, he must be taught on the dos and don'ts in the house like showing respect to parents, fixing his toys after playing, eating first before playing with friends, the hours set to eat, play, and sleep, and many more. Parents must communicate this to the toddler in simple words that he can understand. And after instilling it to his mind and heart, he must be aware that obedience brings reward and disobedience has punishments.
Rewards and punishment can be in various forms and I would like to share with it more on my next article Godly Discipline. Rewards can be in a form of appraisal, treats, or going out with your toddler to amusement places. Punishment can be in a manner of spanking, a reprimand, or a time out where the child either sits or stands for few minutes corresponding to the age of the toddler. You may have other children and discipline may vary depending on their personality but most importantly whichever discipline is applicable to your toddler, spending quality time with your kids is what matters most to them, and praying to God about the kids and setting an example in showing your respect, care, love for God and love for them is the most powerful tool in raising your toddler in a godly way.