Effective discipline depends on understanding a child's age and development. Between 18 months and 5 years, children go through significant changes in mobility, language, social skills, and understanding of rules. The document provides details on developmental milestones and effective discipline strategies for each age, including using brief timeouts for 2-4 year olds and encouraging independence for 5 year olds while still providing support and answering their questions.

1. Parenting with age:
Effective discipline starts only when we understand a child by its age. Various circumstances and age
are two of the most dominant reasons to understand a child’s behaviour.
18 months:
Your child is curious, fearless, impulsive, mobile, and clueless about the consequences of her actions.
Though he's building a vocabulary and can follow simple instructions, he can't understand lengthy
rules. He may bite or hit to register his displeasure or to get your attention but, if you wait for even 10
minutes to react, he won't remember what he did wrong.
2 year olds:
Your child is using her developing motor skills to test limits, by running, jumping, throwing, and
climbing. Trying to speak a few words at a time, she becomes frustrated when she can't get her point
across, and she's prone to tantrums. She's also self-centred and doesn't like to share.
3 year olds:
Your child is now a chatterbox; he's using language to argue his point of view. Since he loves to be with
other children and has boundless energy, he may have a tough time playing quietly at home. At this
age, kids need affection and food in abundance. Your kid also understands right from wrong, cause and
effect, and retains information for several hours. Consequences can be delayed for maximum impact,
and explanations can be more detailed.

2. 4 year olds:
Your 4-year-old is at an important learning stage. Encourage your child's relationships with his friends.
However, you will find that with this exposure, he will realize there are other values and opinions
besides yours. Use these friendships as a way to start conversations about different rules for different
families and teach your 4-year-old to follow the rules when he is visiting a friend's home. Make the
punishment fit the crime. Don't overreact to unpleasant behaviour’s. 'Time-outs' are an effective form
of punishment for this age. Usually its recommended one minute per year, so try a four-minute time-
out. Be patient and remember that they are still learning their place in the world — and looking to you
to help them learn.
5 years old:
Your five-year-old needs your support and encouragement, particularly if she begins school in this
year. Your child will notice what kind of activities she can and can’t indulge in comparison with
other children and might want your help to be better at something that’s important to her. You can
help your child feel good about himself by concentrating on his special strengths. Your five-year-old
is becoming more independent and in control of his/her behaviour. There will be fewer arguments
and few tantrums.
Your child can now be reasoned with and can also ask you a bunch of serious questions, and would
want to be taken seriously as well. They'll often ask for your permission before they does something,
because they're starting to learn about rules and the idea of being right and wrong.