Why is it important to explain consequences to my child?

Rather than telling your child no all the time, a smart tactic is to make him aware of the potential consequences of his actions so that he learns to make wise choices when you're not around to raise the alarm. Instead of shrieking at him every time he stands up on the chair, in a calm voice you can say, "I'd be disappointed if you fell because you'd get hurt, and we'd have to spend time in the emergency room rather than playing with your dolls or playing catch." While you sometimes need to be forceful with a "no," such as when danger is imminent, taking advantage of teachable moments early on can have a positive effect that will last a lifetime.