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Handling
Misbehavior
As a parent,
you need to know how to respond to specific behaviors. Here are a few tips
to help you through those times:
Temper
tantrums may occur when a child is frustrated and loses
self-control. Here's what to do:
-
Ensure safety. Be sure the child can't hurt him or herself, or
others. Remove all objects that might cause injury. Or, move your child
to a safer, and if necessary, nonpublic place.
-
Ignore the tantrum. Let your child know you will respond as
soon as he or she regains control. Try to stick with it, even in a
public place.
Aggressive
behavior, such as biting or hitting, may occur because children
lack skills in getting along with others. Here's what to do:
-
Stop the behavior. It's important to prevent your child from
hurting another person. Step in, when necessary.
-
Discuss other ways to respond. Help your child learn positive
ways to express feelings. For example, teach him or her to say "I feel
bad when you tease me," not "Stop it, you jerk!"
-
Use
a timeout if needed. Timeouts are a good way to deal with
aggressive behavior.
Bad
language-- children may use it to get attention. Here's what to do:
-
Set
clear rules. Make it clear which words are OK and which words
are not.
-
Plan your response. For example, you could: a) ignore the bad
language -- your child may stop if you don't reward the misbehavior by
giving your attention or b) remind your child of the rules -- and carry
through with the consequences for breaking them.
-
Understand your child's need for attention. Remember, bad
language is usually a cry for attention. Spend some time with your
child, and take away the cause of the misbehavior.
Stealing
and lying can occur when children have a hard time controlling
their impulses. Here's what to do:
-
Help your child face the facts. Don't try to get your child to
admit wrongdoing. He or she may lie in response. Simply confront him or
her with the facts.
-
Explain the right way to get things. Children may steal or lie
because it seems like the best way to get what they want. Teach them the
right way to express their needs.
-
Arrange for return, payment or replacement of stolen items.
This helps children understand the cost of stealing. Even young children
can perform small jobs to "pay" for something.
Source:
Handling Misbehavior: Tips for Parents
Real Style
Scriptography, 1999
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