Bad behavior can challenge and frustrate you. Poor behavior is often the result of inconsistent discipline, according to Kids Health. Making a few simple changes to your discipline style helps encourage your child to change his behavior and make better choices. Relying on consistent discipline also helps teach your child how to interact appropriately with the world around him.
Step 1
Outline your expectations and set limits. Healthy Children, a website sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics, reports that limits tell you child exactly what is expected of him. You should also be specific when telling your child what the consequences of behavior are because it will teach him that there are ramifications for his actions. Consider writing your list of expectations on a large sheet of paper and posting it in your home so your child has a constant reminder of how he is supposed to behave.
Step 2
Enforce your expectations consistently. According to Kids Health, you must respond to poor behavior each time to send the message that you will not tolerate inappropriate choices. When you catch your child behaving badly, refer to your list of rules and let your child know that the consequences are a direct response to his actions. Over time, your child will learn how to behave the way you want him to because you do not ignore poor behavior.
Step 3
Choose appropriate punishments. Younger children may respond to time-outs, reports Kids Health. Choose a time-out spot in your home that is free from distractions. The purpose of a time-out is to give your child time to think about her actions. Let your child know why she is in time-out and make sure to tell her how you would like her to behave in the future. Once time-out is over, let the behavior go and allow your child to start over. Older children may respond better to losing prized possessions or privileges.
Step 4
Make sure you reward positive behavior. According to Healthy Children, children crave attention and the negative attention received from bad behavior is better than no attention at all. Catch your child being good and point out how proud you are of him. Kids Health states that sticker charts are often an effective way to help your child improve his behavior because they are a tangible reward for good behavior. When your child feels good about behaving appropriately, he is more likely to continue good behavior in the future.
Step 5
Let your child challenge your rules. Allowing your child to propose alternate rules does not mean that you should give up the expectations you already have, but giving your child some power often results in better behavior, according to Healthy Children. Reconsider your child's bedtime if she does not seem tired and is not acting out. An extra half hour may be just enough to empower her to feel more independent. Decide which rules are the most important and let your child have input on rules that are not as important. Your child is more likely to adhere to the rules if she helped make them.
Tips and Warnings
- Explain why you have made each rule. Healthy Children reports that children are more likely to accept and follow rules when they understand why they are important.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you do not use spanking as a form of discipline, according to Kids Health, because it can hurt your child physically, teach him that hitting when you are angry is acceptable, and may cause him to fear or resent you.
Things You'll Need
- Behavior chart
- Stickers
