How to Change a Child's Behavior

Changing a child's behavior requires even more patience than putting up with it. It is much easier to quickly yell or punish a behavior than it is to consistently reinforce a preferred behavior. But in the end, of course, it's worth the effort to change the behavior so that you no longer have to deal with it at all.

Instructions

    • 1

      Praise the child when he exhibits the behavior you want. Be specific and consistent in praising the behaviors that you want the child to do. For example, if you want to stop your child from yelling, thank him for using an "inside voice" every time he speaks quietly.

    • 2

      Model the behavior you want. To use the example from step 1, if you want a child to use an inside voice, don't yell at him but use a quiet voice yourself.

    • 3

      Explain the need for change once. Lecturing will only cause a child to stop listening. However, never explaining why the behavior needs to change will only cause your child to feel that you're being mean. Explain succinctly why the behavior has to change.

    • 4

      Create a rewards system. This system might be organic, such as allowing a child who gets ready for bed quickly and uncomplainingly to have an extra story. Or you could start a sticker chart, allowing the child to earn a sticker for each day (or half day or hour, depending on the child's age and the frequency of the problem) that he goes to bed well or talks quietly.

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