Does a parent need to start disciplining a child who is three years old?

Question

Is that too young to set limits? or should a parent just allow the child complete freedom to do what he or she pleases? I've never had children so people tell me I have no right to speak about this subject, yet I have seen some terrible problems problems parents have later on when they never set any limits early on. Am I wrong?

Answer 1

Discipline starts earlier then 3 years old.

It starts when then get mobile.

When they begin to reach for things, parents need to set boundaries to let the child know they are not allowed to touch certain things. Then as the child ages, the discipline changes to fit the new age.

Answer 2

No  your not wrong. Children need discipline very early. If you tell a 10mth old no they will look at you because they know what they r doing is bad. A mature two yr old can understand time out so def. a three yr old should have some type of punishment.

Answer 3

Children should start being taught what is right for them to do and what is wrong as early as possible.  Example when a few months old and sat in the pram and keep insisting on throwing things out, you tell them no and shake your head. Then when crawling around and touching things that are dangerous and can hurt them, you again tell them no.  as they get older and understand more if you have told them not to do something and the continue you tell them no three or four timed and this still insist you can warn them that if they do not stop they will get a smack on the back of the legs.  Not too hard but enough for them to feel it.  If you don't start discipline early they will be hard to control and expect to do exactly as they please when they  are out and about and annoying other people.  It is also for there own good as they will get a shock when they start school and suddenly have to do as they are told.

Answer 4

Discipline should have started way before 3 years old. These parents might have some issues with their child later on, if not already.

Answer 5

Yes you need to start now or they will think that they are the boss and they wont have any respect for you.

Answer 6

No, you're not wrong.  If you aren't disciplining your child early on, I believe you're doing them a disservice!  I started disciplining my daughter wayyy before 3 years old.  Matter of fact I started setting limits at about 10 or 12 months!  Of course as they get older and better understand what you don't want them to do, then you adjust your discipline style accordingly.  

Answer 7

honestly you should start even younger... we are working with my one year old right now, things like don;t touch the fireplace and stay out of the cabinet... the sooner you start the better in my opinion, then it wont come as a shock to your child when they first hear 'no'

Answer 8

A child should never be disciplined but rather be guided.

Anyway, yes, you should start putting limits because when trees are tall and strong, they are very hard to bend without extreme force.

Answer 9

yes, otherwise they will rebel. They are smarter than u think.

Answer 10

Yes discipline is good, parents should start as they mean to go on.

Answer 11

All children, however young or old need boundaries. These boundaries will allow them to express themselves and test themselves and allows them to feel safe and secure.

Whilst children are growing up they will continue to test boundaries and this teaches them wrong from right. They will grow into healthy adults knowing what boundaries are and why they exist.

If a child is allowed to run wild and not given boundaries, they have nothing to butt up against and they become confused. This is when the child becomes unruly and roles reverse until the child governs the parents. The child will grow into a wild young adult and drug abuse etc may well follow.

I am not talking authoritarian physical punishment. I am talking about No means No and why it means No and sticking to it. Everytime must mean the same and be the same.

Good Luck  

Answer 12

Three is definitely not too young for discipline.  

However, the term "discipline" has different meanings to different people.  Children need limits, and actually like structure and routine.  It gives them a sense of security and they learn what to expect.  

I don't believe in spanking or other forms of physical punishment, and I do not believe in time-outs under the age of at least 2 years old.  

By three years of age, children should have learned some limits and behavioural expectations.

Having said that, if you don't have children, it is kind of hard for you to comment on other people's children's behaviour.  People with no children are often the best parents.

Answer 13

Kids will never learn unless u beat decipline into them i suggest u start by spanking then actuall hurting it will work  

Answer 14

No not at all.Even if you arent a parent that dosent mean you dont have a brain.to set limits means that the sould start telling them the differece between good and bad. give them small gifts for there accomplishments. also punish them or make use of the "naughty chair" technique. which is that when they do something wrong they have to sit on it if they did it purposely.however children dont remember much before they are 5 or 6 yrs old.but still start from the 3rd or 4th yr or when they can understand your words.all the best

Answer 15

Yes children need some kind of discipline as soon as they start doing something they shouldn't i.e. playing near power cords, breaking things, drawing on walls. Doesn't need to be major discipline, just a NO and removing them from the situation is enough

Answer 16

Well this will make me seem really harsh, but i started discipline when my kids started crawling. Nothing to bad, just A simple "no" if they touched something they shouldn't or that was dangerous. I.E the tv or the kitchen cupboards

Answer 17

Of course. You have to set some sort of boundaries or they'll run all over you. If the child is three you definitely need to be teaching them right from wrong that's when they are more aware of things.  

Answer 18

of course the parents should be disciplining their child at 3 years old because if not they might end up in the future have problems with listening and maybe even with the police and drugs

Answer 19

you're not wrong.  what kind of discipline, and what kind of limits is a tougher question, but you have to do something if for no other reason than the child's safety.

Answer 20

Start at three?!?  Oh boy, those parents are in for a tough time.  Discipline (in other words, child training) should start at birth.  It's pretty naive for one  to think  he/she can "un-teach" bad behavior that has been allowed for three or more years.

Answer 21

Children need boundaries, in some ways we all do. Even from younger than 3 children need to know that there are things which are safe, and which are unsafe, things which are acceptable social behaviours, and things which are not. However, if you mean discipline as in physical punishment then I don't think it is necessary. By positively rewarding the behaviours we want to see, (sharing, kindness, tidiness, table manners ect) we encourage children far more than my hurting them. If they still misbehave then they need to learn that they are afected by their behaviour, but using a 'naughty step', ot taking away a favourite toy is usually more than enough for them to get the message. In my experience, children whose parents are clear, say no and mean no, make promises and stick to them, are far far happier than children with no boundaries, who find it much harder to feel safe.