Positive Parenting Ideas
Reward Good Behavior: Not bribe but get into the habit of noticing when your child is behaving, as you would like them to and then reward with praise, attention, and affection.
Ignore Annoying Misbehavior: This behavior is usually designed to get attention, if you don’t look, talk or even react, eventually it will stop. The more you ignore, the more likely it will stop permanently.
Consistency is IMPORTANT!
Time-Out: When behavior is dangerous, destructive or so obnoxious you can’t ignore it, immediately send or remove your child to a place where he or she can have time alone.
Do this calmly and without discussion. The more boring the place you send the child the better.
If the child refuses to stay in time out calmly let them know that they can do nothing positive (i.e.: play a game, TV, etc) until the time-out is completed.
After the time-out ask your child why they think it was necessary for them to have a time out.
Ask what they were feeling and what might they do differently next time to express their emotions.
Provide Clear Expectations and Limits: Children should not have to guess at what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Use Rules for Really Important Things: Formal rules need to be very explicit, save these for really important things such as: they way children treat other people and property, off-limit activities, curfews, chores.
Consequences When Rules and limits are Broken: There must be consequences.
- Need to be consistent
- Realistic
- Fair
- Make sense to children – there should be a logical connection between
The infraction and its consequence
- Impose them in a calm and warm manner
- They need to be done in a timely manner
What’s wrong with spanking? It’s the least effective form of discipline.
-It may stop behavior but only temporarily
-It has many negative side affects, such as creating fear, anger, resentment. It has the potential of creating agressive children
-The message it sends is that it's okay to hit when you do not like something or someone's behavior.