A parent faces a lot of challenges in their children’s lives. We love them but sometimes they can drive us crazy. This is especially true when we think about their behavior.
Depending on your children’s age, the behavior will suffer a lot of modifications. However, it is important to analyze if they are normal or not.
Usually, it depends on the regularity, intensity, and regrets regarding the behavior. But the main point of our article is to provide you with some tips that will help improve your children’s behavior.
1
Speak openly with your child and explain everything
One of the main problems associated with the repeat of bad behaviors is that your child may not be understanding what he has done wrong. Why? Sometimes we get so mad that we scream, say “you did wrong”, give a punish but in the end, you never told explicitly to your child what he did wrong.
The best way to see if he is understanding the problem is asking yourself if you are mad or upset with him, talk and ask him if he knows why you are so mad. If he does not know, then you must try to explain it in a more detailed way.
It’s always important to explain what your child did wrong and why it is wrong. If they don’t see it wrong, they will continue to do the same behavior.
2
Behavior Chart
This is one of the most common strategies to help children improve their behavior. Try to create a behavior chart for a week, and each day you will grade your child’s behavior. You can use sticks or drawings (maybe their favorite cartoons or a sun and a cloud, you can choose anything). It’s a good idea to create three types of behavior – Good, Limbo and Bad. Choose three images and explain the chart to your child. You can choose to give him any type of reward according to his behavior.
The best option should be something that sounds like a gift but might be included in your family’s routine. Like going for a walk, plan a weekend outing, play a game together as a family, something like that.
3
Don’t be afraid to use the word “no”
It’s one of the most difficult words to say to our kids. Yes, I know. But it is also one of the most important. Saying “no” will help your child to develop a variety of skills, such as tolerance towards frustration, the ability to hear a “no”, understanding that nothing is guaranteed and that he must follow the established rules. These are some examples.
If you do everything your child wants, even breaking some family rules, your child won’t see you as a person of authority that he should respect and obey. This means he probably won’t follow any rules you ask him to follow. This is a game changer idea.
Saying “no” is one of the most challenging and important things you can do in order to prepare your child for a brilliant future.
4
Understand the behavior
The behavior can have different meanings and might occur because of several factors. This is an important point that could explain why your child is behaving like that.
Is it because he did not understand it was wrong? – Well, like I said before, it’s an opportunity to analyze your communication, and try to be more explicit regarding the rules.
Is he mad/sad about something? – Sometimes children don’t know how to behave when they feel low. It is fundamental that you talk to your children about their emotions, how they feel and also, about their everyday life.
Something might be happening that is leaving your child sad. Pay attention, talk with them with total focus and disponibility.
5
Integrate your child in daily tasks
A good way to help your child improve their behavior is making him feel an important part of everyday life. Give him small tasks, like making his bed, setting the table for lunch, laying out their clothes for the next day.
This gives them responsibility, independence, focus and the feeling of belonging. If you are part of something, you won’t break it, you will take good care of it. It decreases the level or intensity of the bad behaviors.
A quick note: if there is something bothering your child, the best option will always be solving that problem.
