Lynda Loveland: Discipline in a Jar

Discipline. It’s a hot topic among parents. Heck, even among people who don’t have kids. The methods have changed since we were young-uns.

It used to be a little more cut and dry, ending with a red bee-hind. Nowadays, that kind of discipline could have the authorities knocking at your door. There have been times when I’ve been out with my kids and thought one of them could have used an attention-getting swat. But I thought better of it because I was in public. I think nearly all of us have been there at one point.

I think about how to be better at disciplining all the time. Pretty much all the time I’m around my kids. J

While talking to a friend the other day, she brought up a method she just started using. She called it the Jar of Consequences. You start by filling a jar with age appropriate tasks. I’m not talking about the regular, every day chores.

I’m talking poop scooping the backyard, washing the baseboards or writing a letter to the person they offended and telling them why they’re a value to the family. Then, when your child gets in trouble, instead of having a yell-fest, slide out the Jar of Consequences. Whatever the child pulls out of the jar, they have to do. I’m thinking it kills two birds with one stone. Your child learns a lesson and that dried on juice at the bottom of the fridge gets scrubbed clean!

Here’s to a sparkling house by next week!!!!