Disciplining children is never an easy task. One of the main roles of being a parent, in addition to loving your children, is to develop responsible, rule-abiding citizens. Although children can stretch a parent's patience at times, don't let it go when your children do something wrong. One of the most important factors in disciplining children is consistency. If you're not consistent, you've already lost the battle. In addition to consistency, below are some other helpful tips.

1. Never discipline or strike out when you're angry. Children learn what you model for them.

2. Set your expectations. Before children can follow your rules, they need to know what the rules or boundaries are. Help your children to understand the reasons for the rules if they're old enough.

3. As I said above, consistency when disciplining is one the most important aspects to remember. Don't discipline children one time for breaking a rule and ignore it the next time. Otherwise, they will always be testing your limits.

4. Once the discipline is over, let it go. Don't let one bad action, influence the whole day. Let them know you love them.

5. When a child is having a meltdown, especially if they're young, give them a timeout. However, when you give them a time out, don't make it a fun time out. Sending them to their bedroom for a timeout isn't very much of a time out since they have their toys to play with, books to look at, etc.

6. When it comes to not completing their homework, don't let them get by with it. If they don't complete their homework, recieving a bad grade isn't enough of a consequence. Whether they recieve a grade or not, whether the teacher will accept the homework or not, still make them complete the homework. If you don't make them complete the homework, some children would rather get a poor grade than complete the homework. If you don't nip this in the bud, this could become a habit. However, do make sure they understand how to do the homework. If they don't understand how to do it, help them, but don't do the homework for them.

7 When it comes to serious violations like stealing or vandalism, make the child admit to their actions, apologize, and when applicable perform restitution. I remember once when I was around four, I stole a piece of bubblegum from the store. When we got home, mom wanted to know where I got the gum. I lied and said I picked it up off the ground. She said, "Spit that dirty thing out of your mouth right now!" When I spit it out, she saw it was freshly chewed piece of gum. She knew I had lied. She told me next time we went to the store, I was going to have to tell the store manager what I did and pay him for the gum. I was terrified with the thought of that. Although she never did make me talk to the manager, I never forgot the incident.

8. Don't let your children be disrespectful or hurtful to you or others. When they are disrespectful or hurtful to others, try to help them understand how much it hurts the other person. Try to help them walk in other's shoes.

9. Children should have routine chores around the house which they don't recieve an allowance for. Chores should be set up with the perspective that each family member need to contibute in some way. When they don't do their chores, take away a privilige they were looking forward to.

10. When your children do have good behavior, praise them. If they have done a good job at something, let them know you've noticed and how proud you are of them.