What do you do when your dc aren't obey during school?

[A home for their hearts]

I need some ideas for discipline when your dc aren't obeying during school time. I'm having an issue with this and I'm not quite sure what to do. I thought about taking away 5 minutes from their break time but we haven't even gotten into a good routine yet so we don't always have a break, we just get done what we can get done when we can get it done. LOL

[angela in ohio]

Now I do discipline for things, and I run a tight ship, so to speak, so understand that before I say the following:

I would hold off on disciplining until you have actually established a routine and are sticking to it. I always look at myself first to see what role I play in the problem. If you are not giving them consistency, that may be the problem. It may not, though, in which case they will need discipline, but you won't know that until you try it.

[mo2]

Bumping this up because I have the same problem! I don't know how old your kids are, but mine is 6.

[Joanne]

I need some ideas for discipline when your dc aren't obeying during school time. I'm having an issue with this and I'm not quite sure what to do. I thought about taking away 5 minutes from their break time

Nothing else happens until school work (or chores, if that's the issue) until it's done well and with a respectful behavior. I can't change or demand a certain emotion (happy, for example or even respectful. But I can demand respectful behavior).

So, no breaks, snacks, tv, play, etc until a reasonable amount of school (or chores) is completed.

[Faithr]

I try to make the lessons short and fun or at least short! I remind them that if they can't get it done now (while the timer is ticking) they'll have to do it later. The worst thing though is to turn it into a power struggle. Just be very clear and matter of fact and exact about what they need to do right then and you should be right there to monitor whether they do it. Don't give an assigment and then wander off to answer the phone or change the baby. If there is still a problem, you matter of factly give them a consequence. time out in their room or docking screen time are the two consequences that work best for my crew. Sometimes when things get too heated, I just say that we both need to recover our tempers so we need to work on it later. Then at another time, we sit and work through it. A good approach is to try to come off as a coach rather than demanding, "how can I help you can your work done?" "How can I help you settle down and do your job?" That kind of thing sometimes works with my kids.

[Adrianne]

:iagree: with Joanne. Once you establish a routine, then no priviledges are given until the work is done with respectful behavior.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Another agreement with Joanne.

One note: I've had to remind myself that in the early years (and 8 yo is still early!) the character issues are just as much "school" as the adding and subtracting, reading etc. You are training them - and it helps to do it consciously and with intent.

[LG Gone Wild]

One note: I've had to remind myself that in the early years (and 8 yo is still early!) the character issues are just as much "school" as the adding and subtracting, reading etc. You are training them - and it helps to do it consciously and with intent.
:iagree::thumbup:

[Mrs Mungo]

One problem I constantly have is battling *myself* and distraction. It's easy for me to start doing chores or making phone calls and not paying attention to the kids. That's why we've moved toward having a school room. I have my laptop on the desk out here but I'm sitting at my desk watching them and helping where necessary. The younger they are, the more necessary it is that you are keeping an eye on them. They don't have self-discipline yet.

[Plaid Dad]

My rule is "if you play during work time, you work during play time," which is basically a variation on taking away privileges until the required work has been completed without a fuss. I have occasionally confiscated favorite playthings for a day or more; my dd is 6 and we don't do TV, so she doesn't have a lot of activity-based privileges to take away.

My dw reminds me, though, that I have to be sure that the trouble isn't a result of frustration at the work, real hunger, fatigue, etc. Sometimes my dd will flat out refuse to do something without telling me that she doesn't understand it or needs a refresher in a particular skill. She just digs in her heels. So some discernment is in order before laying down the law.

[tess in the burbs]

mine usually need a break and I give it to them. if they are not trying or get mouthy about an assignment I ask them to go jump for 100 times. our school day is very short, so if they aren't wanting to get in the game I let them jump :-)

and they always come back to the table ready to finish so they can go play. It's in the schoolroom so I can keep an eye on them. they don't *have* to jump right away but they can't return until they did the jumping to release the bad attitude. and it means playtime is a lot longer away if they don't just get on it, lol.

works here. mine are young though...