It can be hard for you to give your child the instructional part of discipline — it takes patience for you to give and practice for your child to accomplish. You may sometimes believe that it is easier to do something for the child than to teach her to do it right for herself. But this doesn't pay off in the long run. Disciplinary instruction is an investment in the future. Taking the time now to teach your child how to act responsibly does more than just give her a skill and a sense of competence — later on, her self-sufficiency will actually save you time.