Alright, I'm just sticking my pinky toe in for now with one little question.
How do you transition from punitive to non-punitive (or at least less-punitive)? I'm really trying and my husband is somewhat supportive and also kind of trying, but we can't seem to stop the fits and screaming and whining from our 4 year old.
I second what Leanna said about lots of reading. The Gentle Christian Mothers website has articles with practical tips for dealing positively with that age group.
The key is that
it is good to express emotions, but kids (and some adults
) need to learn how to express them appropriately. This is best done by modelling (ie if you scream when you're angry, your kids will do the same; but the positive opposites apply too!) and by helping them to verbalise. In the book I found really helpful, Ross Campbell's
How to Really Parent Your Child, he talks about an 'Anger Ladder' which goes from the most inappropriate way to deal with anger to the best way. No one on the planet every arrives permanently at the top. But we all know what we're aiming for: to deal with anger positively, to stay focused on the source and seek resolution in a logical way.
So to get back from the ideal to the real:
- In times of peace, think carefully about the types of things that provoke the tantrums, esp. what the underlying causes could be (usually tiredness, hunger, needing extra hugs). Decide what you can do to prevent explosions in the first place.
- What are the warnign signs that an explosion is brewing? When you see them, act immediately to diffuse the situation - often a big bear hug and a few minutes of focused attention is enough.
- When the fuse blows anyway (as it will, inevitably) try holding your child facing away from you, but pinning the arms so they can't hurt you. Say: It is ok to be angry, but I can't let you hurt me / throw things / hurt others when you are. Help them to SAY that they are angry, help them to verbalise why, help them to seek a resolution which is acceptable to you both.
Remember that when your focus is to stop the tantrum, you are only dealing with the symptoms and not the underlying cause; you are also missing an important teaching opportunity.
In a non-punitive context natural consequences are important i.e. you dump your toys all over the floor, you clean them up. This is working ok for us, but if you and esp. your husband feel uncomfortable with a totally non-punitive household, you might like campbell's book as he is not completely non-punitive, but he puts punishment in its proper place and context. He says punishment
is a way to control behavior, but the most negative one and the most difficult to do properly. So he explains everything you can do to make it the last possible resort.
Anyway, sorry this has become such a long post. Feel free to PM me.