If you have a child that’s exhibiting behavior issues, you might feel like you’re at your wit’s end and don’t know what you can do to help them behave or have a better attitude. While there are some kids that need professional help to get back on track, there are also many things you can try at home that can create a better relationship between you and your child and encourage him or her to reform from their old ways. So to help you learn some new strategies you might want to try, here are three tips for dealing with your child’s behavior issues.
Make Your Expectations Known
For many children, they’re not necessarily trying to be bad or to break the rules. The problem lies in the fact that they aren’t entirely sure what the expectations are for them. To combat this, the Child Mind Institute recommends that you make your expectations very clear for your child. To best do this, sit your child down and explain in simple terms what you expect them to do. Have your child repeat back to you to ensure that they understood what you said. Then, if the child breaks the rules or falls short of your expectations, you can know for certain that they willfully didn’t obey and can then take action.
Let Your Child Control The Little Things
When children act out, it’s often because they are feeling a lack of power and control in their own lives. As a parent, this is something that you can easily remedy on your own. To do this, FamilyDoctor.org suggests that you let your child have more control over the little things in their life. This means letting them choose between what pajamas to wear to bed, which color plate or fork they want to use at lunch, or which healthy breakfast they’d like to eat that morning. The more your child feels that he or she has a little control over themselves, the easier they’ll be to work with.
Don’t Get Stuck In A Rut
With regards to discipline, it can be hard to know the best strategy that will work with your child and his or her personality. Many parents try one strategy hoping that it will work only to find that their child is unaffected. When this happens, Amy Morin, a contributor to VeryWellFamily.com, advises that you don’t get stuck in a rut using a strategy that simply isn’t working. Instead, try to come at the issue from a different angle. For example, if you’ve been using negative reinforcement to try to stop a bad behavior, try positive reinforcement for when your child does something you approve of.
If you have a child you’re struggling with, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you know how you can help them through behavior issues.
