Lysa TerKeurst explains her reality discipline ideas for younger children. Her ideas focus on privileges and reasonable consequences. Hang in there! Reality discipline is possible!

Reality discipline for younger kids is it possible? 

It has been a while since my kids were preschool age, but I do remember holding on for dear life sometimes exclaiming this too shall pass! My reality discipline ideas, during that phase, seemed to be centered around privileges.

When my kids played with their toys correctly and put them away when asked, it showed they were responsible enough to have a few extra minutes added to their bedtime. But if they were defiant, this showed me they needed extra sleep, which meant fewer privileges.

Whatever the consequence, I made sure it was tied to the action. I tried to make sure that I thought of safe and reasonable consequences before my kids pushed my buttons. Otherwise, emotions pushed over the edge will often cause us to throw out threats we won’t carry through.