Behavioral parenting techniques should be based on the personality and temperament of the child as well as the needs of the family and societal expectations, according to pediatricians at Healthy Children. Children enter school and interact with others more effectively when parental guidance and discipline are targeted toward their own disposition. All children are different, and parents should adjust their parenting styles according to the needs of their child.
Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement works for many families. According to Advanced Pediatric Associates, the style of parenting may appear as bribery for some but is an effective technique that motivates children to follow rules and order. Children can be motivated by toys, treats and privileges, as well as by praise and attention. Kids learn early to equate their own positive behavior with the positive reinforcement. Rules can be added to the technique--such as when a child cries to get what he wants, no reward is offered and no negotiations are possible. Positive reinforcement also can take the form of affirmations that help children develop healthy self-esteem.
Consequences
At times, consequences for negative behavior are automatic, such as when a child touches a hot stove and gets burned. Other times, the consequences must be created and enforced by parents. According to Advanced Pediatric Associates, one technique that often works effectively with older children is to allow them to participate in developing consequences. Younger children must be told the rules, however, and what will happen if those rules are broken. Follow-through with punishment and appropriate discipline is vital for the consequences technique of parenting to work.
Freedom
As children age, they require more freedom, and parenting techniques that worked on younger kids no longer prove effective. Parents should begin to make adjustments as their children age. According to the Mayo Clinic, adolescents require more freedom to explore their own individuality. Although consequences may change and continue to be enforced, parents should refrain from exerting pressure on teens to act or think in certain ways. Part of the natural development process involves experimentation and rebellion that, when allowed to an appropriate degree, helps children break away from parental discipline and build their own values. The role of behavioral parenting often includes discussion and guidance rather than direct intervention.
