Many people think of discipline as punishment, and this is unfortunate. Literally, discipline means to teach or to learn. Disciplining toddlers involves helping them learn how to behave so that they become comfortable in their life and in the company of other people. Parents are the most important teachers in this goal. Ultimately, you want your child to attain self-discipline, and during the toddler years, you start to build a foundation for inner self-control.