Children start to learn through their physical activities and senses as early as they hit two years old. They can now imitate adult behavior even if they still lack the maturity and experience. It is but normal for children to make mistakes before getting it right. With this in mind, parents must not try to impose upon their child to mind their behavior when s/he still finds it hard to understand it. The real essence of dealing with your child at this age is not to restrict their behavior but to understand them as well as their developmental needs.

There are several common situations that many parents encounter with their children but usually fail to deal with. For instance, if you tell your child to dress up but s/he runs away, do not chase him or her. Instead, stay where you are, wait for your child and make him/her look for you. Make sure, however, that you have finished all your other tasks if you are in a rush to prep up and go in the morning. This way, you avoid freaking out. Your child will eventually come back to you and more likely cooperate when you are steady and consistent in your ways.

Also, if your kid is getting out of control and agitated, ignore him/her until s/he settles down. At first, you may notice that your child will scream or cry even louder to make you give in to his/her whims. Be patient. Your child will eventually calm down if s/he gets tired of crying or screaming.

However, if your child is doing so because s/he is hurt or sick, attend to him/her immediately. You need to properly evaluate the situation. Carefully decide what and how to respond to your kid. Give your child something to do if s/he is only fussing for attention. S/he will do better if you are decisive and clear on your part. If your child becomes irritated, try not to make snide remarks. This can take a toll on your child emotionally or psychologically.

Keep in mind that children of various ages responding depending on their level of understanding and maturity. Be specific and clear when giving instructions to your child so s/he can properly carry them out. This is far more effective than hitting, screaming, spanking and yelling.

Do not try to compare your 'misbehaving' child from his/her 'behaved' siblings. This can ignite sibling rivalry and may cause him/her to rebel. Deal with each of them at each situation separately. Don't set one standard when disciplining your children. Know what works for each one of them, even for twins. However, you may want to consider seeking professional guidance if you have exhausted all your means to discipline your difficult children.

Instead of harping on your child's faults all the time, focus more on his/her good behavior. For instance, if your child has a rather demanding and impatient behavior, try to acknowledge him or her positively if s/he manages to wait for something. As much as possible, you should allow your child to learn to manage their behavior. However, don't be too lenient - you just have to be firm and consistent. If you correct your child at all times, you are only showing that you do not trust them enough to do the right things on their own. It is important to let your children do things and learn how to discipline themselves so that they will turn out to be good kids you always want them to be.