10 CONSISTENCY MEANS PARENTAL WARNINGS ARE
ALWAYS FOLLOWED BY IMMEDIATE, APPROPRIATE CORRECTION.

“Angie, I told you to stop touching that,” Mom warns.

“Angie, stop that right now, or else,” Mom threatens more loudly.

“Angie, if you don’t stop, I will spank you,” Mom gravely announces even more loudly.

“Angie, right this minute stop or I will spank you. I mean it now,” Mom yells as Angie continues to ignore her.

How many times do you have to threaten before your child obeys? How loud must you get before your child pays attention to you?

Children learn when their parents really mean it. Because parents fail to follow up their warnings with immediate correction, children learn to wait until the parent really means “business.” You may be wasting valuable time and emotional energy with yelling and threatening.

•     Give a calm warning, stating the reason for it.

•     Follow the warning with an announcement of the consequences if the child fails to obey.

•     If the child continues to disobey, then take immediate action with implementing the consequences.

No yelling, screaming, or stern threats are needed. The parent determines when a child will receive correction, not the reverse.

Are you willing to take action after the first warning? Start this process when a child is young and as he matures, he will know that your warnings are serious the first time.

Discipline your son in his early years while there is hope.
If you don’t you will ruin his life (Prov. 19:18 TLB).