According to the American Association of Family Physicians, effective home behavior management can be essential to building positive self-esteem and effective social skills in children. Parents should take time to learn about parenting techniques and behavior management and develop a household routine to address both positive and negative behaviors. Planning ahead can make discipline strategies more effective and consistent.
Clarify Expectations and Consequences
The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that effective behavior management develops out of a clear and consistent systems of rules and consequences. Parents should establish household rules and routines and associated consequences that will occur if the rules are not followed. It's important to explain expectations ahead of time. For example, if the routine is to clean up the kitchen after dinner, a child who refuses to help may be given extra chores or lose the privilege to watch television.
Chart Behaviors
The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests that parents develop a behavioral chart for any ongoing problem behaviors. Charts can be made weekly and offer points for positive behaviors. Negative behaviors should result in a reduction of points. Using a point system like this can offer children the motivation to learn and follow the rules, and they can begin to associate positive behavior with a sense of accomplishment.
Develop a Reward System
The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that reward systems can be a powerful tool in behavior management. Small rewards can be used for daily behaviors, and larger rewards can be given for accomplishment of long-term behavioral goals.
Rewards can be household privileges that a child earns, such as computer time or a special food or snack. Larger rewards can be fun events, such as outings to the movies or a local place of interest to the child. The important aspect of a reward system is that children learn that they will earn more privileges from appropriate behaviors.
