The key to healthy and effective discipline is our attitude.
As infant expert Magda Gerber said, “Lack of discipline is not kindness, it is neglect.” There is no question that children need discipline. He has the overwhelming impulse to step out of bounds, while also desperately needing to know he is securely reined in. It is the push-pull of our toddler testing his burgeoning independence. It’s a cry for attention, a shout-out for sleep, or a call to action for firmer, more consistent limits. A toddler acting out is not shameful, nor is it behavior that needs punishing.
