1. Establish House Rules
Make simple rules for your child. Start with a few things we do
and don't do. Discuss them with your child.

2. Prevention Is Better Than Cure
If you feel that your child's behaviour is beginning to get out
of control, nip it in the bud by distracting your child's
attention onto a positive activity or game.

3. Understand Your Child's Behaviour
Define simply and clearly any difficult behaviour. Keep a diary
of what led up to the behaviour and what immediately followed
it. From this, see if there is a pattern. What are the triggers
and consequences which might be keeping the behaviour going?
DON'T blame yourself but work at changing your responses.

4. Discipline With Short Time-Outs
Try to view discipline in a different way e.g. if a rule is
broken, discipline with a time out a short, quiet time alone,
without play. Alternatively ignore minor behaviour difficulties
as your attention will often inadvertently encourage the very
behaviour you want to stop.

5. Take Five
When tensions and anger rise in you or your child take five.
Take five minutes to cool down and to ask yourself, Why am I
getting so angry? Try to identify the real problem, then find
the solution. Always control your temper.

6. Never Strike In Anger
Research has shown that hitting your child does not help, and
can do more damage. Try to avoid striking your child in anger.
Smacking is not effective in reducing poor behaviour, as it
does not teach children good behaviour.

7. Don't Yell or shout at children
Try to avoid yelling at your children in anger. Do not put down
your children. If they break a rule, tell them what they did
wrong and why that makes you angry. Be angry at what they did,
NOT at who they are.

8. Get Away
When you feel frustrated, angry or uncontrollable, let your
feelings out safely away from your children. Get out. Take a
walk. Do not stay alone with your children when you are
overwhelmed. Get help and support.

About The Author: How to foster good Child Behaviour at
http://ChildrenBehaviour.eask.info

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