Consequences and discipline, these are our teachers, even today. We all know the consequence of staying up too late, and most of us have learned this lesson. We are to teach these same life lessons to our foster and adopted children with the same tools - consequences and discipline.
Natural ConsequencesAllowing whatever may happen to happen. If your child forgets her homework and you know that means detention, let her serve detention. She will hopefully learn that being organized and prepared before school is important. Also, realize that she will NOT learn each lesson right off.
We've had our adopted children for several years. We are still struggling to teach the boys lessons that they have endured the natural consequences of, several times.
LogicalThis is when you as a parent need to come up with a creative way to make the discipline fit the crime. If, Sally is constantly picking on Max, how about Sally having to do Max's chores for the day? We did this when our youngest boy was into tormenting our daughter.
Learn more about parenting with consequences by taking training. There are so many good ones out there. I really enjoyed Love and Logic and learned a lot about discipline and how to teach through discipline and allowing consequences to happen.
It's not always easy allowing our children to fall, but it is necessary in order for them to grow.
