Don't raise your hand or voice...instead follow these tips when it comes to disciplining your kids

Let's face it: disciplining your kid is no easy task. Not only do you feel bad after raising your voice, you also may think you have no clue what you're doing. As such, at times you probably have noticed yourself making mistakes.

However, you should never to beat yourself up. After all, there's a reason they say parenting is the hardest job you'll ever have. Luckily, there are some things Parenting.com says you can do to avoid these no-no's in the future, such as:

1) Not telling a lie
You may be tempted to tell your preschooler that if he doesn't brush his teeth, then the tooth fairy will never visit him again, but you know that isn't true. Instead, the website recommends trying to empathize with your tiny tot.

Consider saying something like "Sometimes I don't want to brush my teeth either, but part of being big kids means doing things we don't always want to do." This is far more effective than even the smallest white lie.

2) Staying firm
On several occasions, you may have noticed yourself giving into a tantrum your kid was throwing simply to get him to be quiet. This is never a good idea. Switch gears and tell Tommy that next time he throws his food, he'll get a timeout. If he doesn't listen and tosses those peas all over the floor, stand your ground and put him the corner for a few minutes. Children like to see how far they can push adults and that is why you shouldn't back down.

3) Not using bribes too often
We all know that kids love prizes, but telling them that they are going to get a piece of candy whenever they finish their veggies is not smart for the simple reason that your bundles of joy will begin expecting a reward every time they do something right. Using praise is much better and surprisingly effective.