It can take a while to find your child's bargaining tool so be on the look out from the age of 2-3 on wards. Knowing what it is comes in handy when dealing with terrible twos. Keep in mind their bargaining tool will change as they get older.
Why is knowing their bargaining tool so important? You use this tool to help discipline your children, to get them doing what you want them to do.
If food is their bargaining tool you can tell them to stop a particular behavior or else they won't get any lunch.
If their mobile phone is their bargaining tool you can tell them they need to be home by a certain time or else they'll lose their phone for 3 days.
If their computer is their bargaining tool you can tell them they need to speak to you respectfully or else they'll be banned from the computer for a week.
Each child has a different thing they can't live without and you might have to try a number of things to find the thing that gets them to stop in their tracks.
For my first toddler it was food. I tried taking away toys, teddies, blanket, time out. Non of them made them sit up and pay attention. Then I discovered their bargaining tool is food. Threaten to take away food and they'd stop straight away. As they got older it was TV and early bedtimes, then pocket money. By the time teens came along there was no hold over them because they already knew by then that mum means business and did what was asked without me having to bargain.
Hint: it is much easier if you start doing this as soon as they're old enough to understand consequences so that by the time they're in school then high school they understand there will always be a consequence to poor behavior.
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