As Parents we need to be on the ball

We need to be wise and alert

Because our little darlings  as sweet as they are

Can also be very watchful and intelligent too

Consistency is one

So how do we stay consistent?
First of all, never make promises/threats you can't keep when trying to retain discipline in your child.
They are not stupid!!!!!

I winced recently in a doctors surgery  when I heard one young parent trying to calm down a child in a tantrum, I couldn't believe what I was hearing:
"If you don't stop, I'm going to walk out and leave you here?"
Not only is that a cruel statement to make, its actually completely unrealistic so you are in effect not just scaring the child but lying to them too, what lesson will they learn from that?
You are actually training them to zone out of veral discipline, its not long before they realise you will never do that and switch off.
Who is in charge then? certainly not the parent.

Never make a statement of discipline to a child that you can't back up or stand by. If you make statements like "If you don't stop that now, we won't go to the Park!!!! " Make sure you are prepared to miss the trip to the park, because once you say the words, you can't change them or the child won't take you seriously next time.

I had a very wilful daughter, who pushed me to the very limit of sanity on many occasions especially at bed times. I would put her to bed, she would follow me out of the door, I would put her back into bed, she would climb swiftly out, this nightly routine went on for sometimes hours, but I knew I couldn't back down, if it took me 50+ times a night of putting her back to bed, I did it, as exhausting as it was, I had to be consistent so that she knew bedtime meant bedtime. If I had given in this is what would have happened.
1) Her delight in winning
2) The next night would be even harder as she waited for me to give in again
3) I would have felt failure
4) Easy life............what easy life, I would be under the control of my own child!!
My daughter eventually realised.............Hmmmm Mum is just never going to give in, so I may as well give up
Did it affect our relationship?
Yes it did
Even now she is 22, my daughter and I are best friends and we adore each other because I respect her and she respects me

How about being consistent in accentuating the difference in bribery and prizes for good behaviour.
How many times, have our child publicly embarrassed us, so desperate we whisper to them, if you stop crying I'll buy you some sweets!!!!
A litte later in the day, we may ask them to put their toys in the box tidy in exchange for a bag of sweets..........
How long do you think it is before our Little precious works out the easiest way to get the bag of sweets is to have a tantrum, why work for a reward when I can have the same prize for yelling!!

Not for one minute am I suggesting that bribery should never be acceptable, Goodness, we all need to resort to drastic measures at some points in our parenting journey. I'm just suggesting we are aware of all times of remaining consistent. Maybe allocate a set "prize" for those drastic times but never use it as a reward for good behaviour  and certainly make sure there is a bigger prize in good behaviour. It doesn't have to be in material prizes, but we can lavish them with verbal praise.
A stomach full of sweets is absolutely no comparison to a child full of self esteem and appreciation because their good actions have had the ultimate reward of not only pleasing their parent but giving them a huge ego boost of confidence too.

Being consistent is a great form of discipline because it erects strong barriers quickly and painlessly, the child grows secure in the knowledge of being safe with their parents. There are no inconsistencies, no unpredictable arguments and no ridiculous threats.

Be consistent in positive ways too, a child will never want to stop hearing how loved and how treasured they are. Make it a part of your nightly routine to show them affection. Kisses, Hugs and I Love You's at bedtime, go a long way to sending your child to sleep with Happy thoughts and Happy dreams