When you want a gentler and more positive way to discipline your child, redirection can help show your child appropriate behavior without punishment or derogatory statements. Where you might be tempted to send your child to his room or remove his privileges, redirection techniques allow your child to recognize the inappropriate behavior and teach him to choose better behavior in the future.
Suggestion
Children are rarely going to be on their best behavior all day long. When you notice that your child's behavior is beginning to slip and become unacceptable, quickly show your child a way to swap the bad behavior for the good, suggests FamilyDoctor.org, a website maintained by the American Academy of Family Physicians. For instance, if your child is yelling at you or using demanding language, gently tell your child the "right" way to speak and try again to redirect her to better behavior.
Distraction
Sometimes distraction is all that's necessary to redirect your child's behavior and make him forget about whatever was igniting the unacceptable behavior. When your child is bored, cranky or otherwise upset, showing him another plaything, leading him in another activity or choosing a new playmate can help him start afresh for better behavior. If you notice that your child becomes harder to deal with when watching television, lead him in a craft to "reset" his behavior for the better.
Removal
When your child is in a dangerous or potentially upsetting position, removing your child from the situation is an effective way of redirection. As a parent, you likely know the signs and cues for your child becoming upset or acting out. By watching carefully, you can begin to identify dangerous circumstances to remove your child as soon as possible, notes the University of Michigan Healthy System. Making sure that you childproof your home, watch for triggers and know the warning signs of inappropriate behavior can ensure that you reach your child in time to remove her.
Structure
Offering your child the right amount of structure is a preliminary tactic to ensure that your child doesn't act out or behave badly at all. In providing structure, your child is so preoccupied with a full and engaging schedule that he doesn't consider acting out. Instead, you redirect his attention to something more interesting than acting rude, belligerent or inappropriately. Structure is a keystone to maturity and development, says Dr. William Sears, Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine.
