{"id":63380,"date":"2026-04-27T22:57:53","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T22:57:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/?post_type=first-things&#038;p=63380"},"modified":"2026-05-05T22:58:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T22:58:27","slug":"positive-discipline","status":"publish","type":"first-things","link":"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/es\/first-things\/positive-discipline\/","title":{"rendered":"Positive Discipline Techniques for Kids Under 5"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Positive discipline helps young children learn what to do, not just what not to do. For kids under 5, that means setting clear limits, staying calm and teaching skills over time. After all, children do best when they feel safe, connected and supported.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only does it help children learn boundaries at home and in social settings, but it also helps them build emotional skills such as self-control, cooperation and empathy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-size: 40px;\">What positive discipline means<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Positive discipline starts with a warm relationship. When children feel close to the adults caring for them, they are more likely to listen, recover from mistakes and learn new behaviors. Praise, encouragement, predictable routines and calm limits all support this process. First Things First\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/resources\/positive-parenting\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">positive parenting resources<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also encourage parents to pause, breathe and respond calmly before reacting to behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of thinking, \u201cHow do I get my child to stop this?\u201d positive discipline encourages parents to ask, \u201cWhat is my child trying to learn right now, and how can I help them?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That shift matters a lot in the early years.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-size: 40px;\">Positive discipline for babies<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Babies are not ready for discipline in the usual sense. They do not yet understand rules or consequences. Their behavior is how they explore, communicate and connect. If a baby grabs your glasses or pulls your hair, they are not being \u201cbad.\u201d They are learning how the world works.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YtuDU5e8fg4\" width=\"560\" height=\"314\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At this age, the best response is redirection. Move the unsafe object, offer something appropriate and keep your tone calm. Consistency helps, but so does warmth. Babies learn through repetition and loving care, not punishment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-size: 40px;\">Positive discipline for toddlers<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Toddlers are curious, emotional and impulsive. They are just starting to understand simple limits, but they still need lots of help managing frustration, transitions and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/tag\/managing-big-feelings\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">big feelings<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Focus on simple rules, redirection and calm support rather than harsh punishment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-size: 40px;\">Here are a few positive discipline tools that work well for toddlers:<\/span><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Redirect.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If your child is doing something unsafe or unhelpful, guide them to something else.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Use routines<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Predictable daily routines help toddlers know what to expect.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Give transition warnings.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A heads-up before leaving the park or cleaning up can reduce meltdowns.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Praise what you want to see<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u201cYou used gentle hands.\u201d \u201cThank you for helping.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For many toddlers, a \u201ctime-in\u201d can work better than a time-out. Staying close, helping them calm down and naming the feeling can teach more than sending them away alone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-size: 40px;\">Positive discipline for preschoolers<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Around age 3 and up, children can begin to understand simple rules, expectations and consequences more clearly. Preschoolers still need support, but they are more able to practice cooperation, kindness and self-control.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Positive discipline for preschoolers might include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Clear family rules. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep them simple, like \u201cUse kind words\u201d or \u201cBe gentle with others.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Natural or logical consequences<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If blocks are being thrown, the blocks are put away for a while.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>\u201cTry again.\u201d <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Give your child a chance to practice the positive behavior.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Praise and encouragement.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Catch them being helpful, patient or gentle.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The goal is not perfection. It is practice.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-size: 40px;\">What positive discipline does not include<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Positive discipline does not mean being permissive. You can be warm and still hold clear boundaries. It also does not include spanking, hitting, shaming or yelling. These reactions may stop behavior in the moment, but they do not teach the skills children need in the long term.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-size: 40px;\">When to get extra support<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some challenging behavior is normal in the early years. But if behavior is intense, frequent, lasts a long time or feels hard to manage, extra support can help.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First Things First funds the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/resources\/birth-five-helpline\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Birth to Five Helpline<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a free service that connects child development specialists with Arizona parents and caregivers to address concerns and next steps.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swhd.org\/training\/smart-support\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smart Support<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also helps early educators respond to children\u2019s behavioral and emotional needs, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/program-types\/family-resource-centers\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family Resource Centers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> offer connection and parenting support in communities across Arizona.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Positive discipline is not about control. It is about teaching. And that learning starts one small moment at a time.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn what positive discipline for kids under 5 looks like at every stage, from babies to preschoolers. Get simple strategies that build connection, set limits and guide better behavior.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":63381,"template":"","tags":[23,38,68,71],"class_list":["post-63380","first-things","type-first-things","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-child-development","tag-toddlers","tag-infants","tag-preschoolers"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Positive Discipline Techniques for Kids Under 5 - First Things First<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn what positive discipline for kids under 5 looks like at every stage, from babies to preschoolers. 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