One of the hardest jobs parents have is finding effective and positive ways to discipline their children. In the past, spanking and yelling had been common ways that parents handled discipline. This has become a very sensitive issue and parents need alternatives.

Redirection of a child's attention as an alternative to spanking or yelling. If you or your child can come up with ideas or alternatives to deal with what's going on, that might help. By having a child come up with alternative solutions to the problem, it helps them to stop and refocus and get them thinking on a different track, rather than on a one track goal.

Parents are truly the role-models for their children, it's important to show them the right way to act and re-act. Anytime we do anything with our children, we are suggesting to them a way that they could behave themselves. So when we praise them, we are teaching them how to praise others. When we listen to them we are teaching them how to listen to others. When we meet their needs, we're teaching them how to meet other people's needs. When we spank them, we're teaching them how to be aggressive. So we need to be cognizant, aware anytime we do any discipline technique, is it appropriate, does it work, does it meet my child's needs and what am I teaching my child? For more information please visit www.parentingtoday.tv

If re-direction and modeling good behavior don't work, you may want to consider time-outs. Professionals recommend about one minute for each year of a child's age as the appropriate time period for a timeout. Generally, a child will be sent to their room for a timeout, they are left along for the duration of the time out, this will give them an opportunity to think about their transgression. After the timeout they're ready to listen and talk.

It's never too late to stop punishing and using other techniques, keeping in mind when you switch gears..at first it will take your children a little bit to notice.

It's key to remember when working with any children-as adults we are their teachers and their mentors and we're there to coach them and guide them and that whatever we choose to communicate to them is going to impact their own self esteem.