Guest Blogger, Andy Bell
Raising a kid is a tough job for every parent. However, it is a fulfilling one, especially when he grows up becoming a good individual. In order to understand and control the behavior of your child, here are some tips and strategies that can help you out.
1. Remain calm.
It is important that you, the parent, should remain calm when your child is reacting negatively to a certain situation, such as by being angry or frustrated. If your child sees that you cannot control your own self, it will only worsen the negative emotion he is feeling. Being calm will make your child calm, too. You should, instead, let him know that you understand his case yet explain to him, in a positive way, that a negative reaction will not solve any problem.
2. Limit the help you give.
The child should be able to know and understand the importance of independence. You should not rescue him every time you think he needs to be rescued. While your child could be facing difficulties with a certain task, he needs to learn things by himself. If you rescue him all the time, then, he will not be able to do tasks for himself. Instead of taking control of the things that he should do himself, you just have to support him.
3. Provide your kid enough opportunities to make wise choices.
Giving your child enough chances to make wise choices help him learn self-control. It also helps him to respond appropriately to the situation that he currently faces. You may use the “structured choice” technique where you give him two different choices yet they both lead your child to the right direction. For instance, when trying to make him clean his own room, you can ask where he wants to start first, the bed or the desk.
4. Understand that discipline is different from punishment.
You have to understand that these two terms are different and are not interchangeable. With discipline, you teach your child the manner on how to behave properly, explain why a certain behavior is inappropriate and reinforce him positively to do an acceptable behavior. With punishment, you force your kid to behave through the use of shame and fear. You should only punish your child if nothing else works without any verbal or physical abuse. Instead, you should reward positive behavior to encourage him to do what is right more often.
5. Be a good role model to your kids.
Younger children often mimic the behaviors of their parents. If you notice your child struggling academically, demonstrate the importance of seeking help through a program such as Tutor. Kids will learn the importance of advocating for themselves when they are faced with a challenge.
