We probably all remember what it was like to be a little child and have to deal with the sadness and guilt from receiving a dressing-down from our parents.
But disciplining your kids after they misbehave doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom: there are ways to make sure they receive the message in a positive, affirming manner.
Here are some of our favorite ways you can lift a child’s spirits after you’ve had to scold or punish them.
Table of Contents
Honest But Kind
You shouldn’t sugarcoat the reasons you’re punishing your kid, but you should try to convey that although they may have misbehaved it isn’t the end of the world and the situation presents a good opportunity for them to grow and learn.
Being straight up with your child establishes trust and gives them a firm idea of what they should and shouldn’t do in the future to stay in your good graces.
Comfort Food
If you’ve had to discipline your child and they’re having a hard time getting over it, surprise them with a meal they love or a snack they’re fond of once they come out of their shell. There are very few feelings a warm, tasty dinner can’t solve!
Spend Time Outside
As we all know, kids benefit greatly from soaking up as much time in the outdoors as possible, and letting them get some sun and exercise after a scolding can not only keep them healthy but help them to work out some of their residual negative energy as well.
Exercise releases chemicals that allow for better sleep as well, so this will decrease the odds that they’ll lie awake at night thinking about what they’ve done.
Validate Their Feelings
Your child may be upset after you scold them, and it’s important for their development that you allow them to process their feelings however it feels most natural to them.
Even if it might seem like they’re not seeing the situation the “right” way, you should remember that you were once a kid too.
Dressing Up and Playing
Depending on how old your child is, it might be a fun way to blow off steam for them if you allow them to dress up with you and spend some quality time playing Grown Ups with mom and dad! (Plus, this is a nice, covert way for you to try on some new clothes you’ve been itching to style as well).
Child running through sprinklers at sunset (child-running-sprinklers-sunset)
Encourage a Hobby
Kids not only love the hobbies they gravitate towards naturally, they’re great for encouraging their development in many ways as well, so if your little one is feeling lousy after a scolding make sure they’ve got a favorite game, tool or activity nearby they can use to soothe their feelings.
Pet Pals
Children can form close bonds with their trusted furry companions, and pets can be a great source of refuge for those times when they might be feeling a little put out by your words.
Having a sweet cat or pup close by to stroke and speak to can make all the difference in the world.
Get Them to See Friends
Kids majorly benefit from being around their peers, and spending some time with buddies or siblings in their age group in a controlled environment can really help them to work some of their feelings out in a positive way.
Remember that kids their own age are experiencing the same things they are in a way you won’t quite grasp, making them great ways for having a child retain confidence in their experiences.
Keep a Library Handy
It’s no secret that reading is a fantastic way to help a child’s mind develop, and getting the chance to disappear into the world of their favorite book for a while will usually help them to distance themselves from the situation and put things in perspective.
Ask them Yourself!
No two children are going to have exactly the same ways of coping with their feelings, so if you’re not sure what they might like to do to help them recover from a scolding, ask them personally and let them know no matter what they might have done wrong, you’re still on their side at the end of the day.
These are just a few of my favorite ways to help my kids recover after I’ve had to give them a talking to; send me a message and tell me a few of yours!
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