My steps have become my place of discipline.
For any behavior the kids are having trouble with, I make a step for it. If they are told to stop the behavior, they have a choice. Stop or if it happens again, they go sit on the corresponding step for a time out
(length = # of minutes they are old; ex: Our 10 yrs gets 10 minutes on the step)
Here are the current behavior issues we are working on:
This is my catch-all spot....if they are just being naughty or mean-spirited....the time out spot is where they end up.
While the kids are sitting on their step of discipline, I borrowed an idea from my friend, Tija Young, to put a Bible verse that relates to the reason for their behavior correction.
For example, the "tame the tongue" step has Ephesians 4:29 by it....
This is by the whining step.....
This is by the disrespect and defiant step.
These are by the "scaring others" and "making fun of" steps.
Having a consistent consequence for a behavior we are trying to improve on has worked very well. The kids don't have to sit on them much anymore and when they do, they know the drill. The other rule is no one else in the family can speak to or even look at the person that is on the steps of discipline during their time out. For some of my kids, that is the worst part.
Wish I would have thought of this system years ago....
