Developing positive behavior traits in children is a challenge, as all children have meltdowns at any given time. This is just a natural, if not frustrating, progression of childhood. Some things that parents need to take into account is that the earlier they are able to take responsibility and constructively manage their child’s behavior, the more long-term and postive the behavior change will be.
* Realize that children are naturally curious – their goal at this stage of life is to explore and figure out how things work. They are not being defiant, rather they have not learned how to curb this natural inquisitiveness. Our job as parents is to provide a safe environment for them to test their favorite question, “How does it work?”
* Children are also impulsive. They haven’t yet learned how to channel the urge to try something RIGHT NOW. It is our job to show them the way to safely explore the area around them.
* Giving children choices about what they can do gives them a sense of ownership in decision-making.
* Do not engage in power struggles. Choose your battles wisely. if it doesn’t matter in the big scheme of things, let it go and allow your child to save dignity.
* Avoid put downs, sarxasm, and foul language. It will come back to haunt you. I promise.
* Sometimes bad behavior can be related to being tired or hungry. Milk and cookies will be good for both of you.
* Sometimes the amount of frustration can be directly linked to a achild’s developing language skills.
Understanding children’s development and reasons why they act as they do can definitely impact a parent’s role in the parenting process. Once you learn to parent positively, your child will become self-confident, self-directed, focused, and life-long problem solvers.
Want more information? Check out our parenting seminars or podcast series. Contact us for more information. www.richeducationalconsulting.com or 972-816-3100.
