Parenting children with behavioral problems can really try your patience. You have to always be on the ball to prevent problems before they happen or your child’s behavior may worsen. Fortunately, with some effort, you can change the way your child behaves. The key is to finding the methods that work best for your child.
Identification
Children exhibit bad behavior in different ways. In some, it will be defiant behavior, resisting instructions from authority figures. In toddlers, you may have temper tantrums or your child may hit or bite other children. Older children may exhibit bullying behavior or have trouble sitting still in school. You may also find that your child has behavioral problems only with you, behaving well outside the home. Every child is different; it’s important to recognize your child’s special issues.
Considerations
Certain bad behaviors are completely age appropriate. For example, a young toddler may not know how to express his frustration in any way other than hitting. A teenager may disregard your rules as a way of testing the limits. Though you shouldn’t discount this behavior and allow it to happen, it can help to know that it’s not just your child going through it.
Solutions
Most experts recommend using positive parenting techniques to help with bad behavior. This entails praising your child for good behavior more than scolding her for bad behavior. Some children respond well to reward charts, which reward her for doing good things with a sticker or larger item. Others will start acting better the more often you catch them doing good things and praising them for those actions. Consistency in your approach is usually the best way to make a difference.
Misconceptions
There is no one-size-fits-all way for dealing with behavioral issues in your child. You may have to try different techniques to see what works best with your child. Additionally, you cannot fix everything at once. It’s best to choose one or two bad behaviors to focus on changing.
Warning
Children are great imitators. If you get angry, yell or hit him when he does something wrong, he’s likely to start exhibiting those behaviors as well–the exact opposite of what you’re hoping for. You should always pay attention to your own reactions to certain situations. Try a moderate approach. Modeling good behavior will encourage your child to act that way.
Photo Credit
- temper image by Lisa Eastman from Fotolia.com
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