At every Cuddles Childcare Centre in the Perth area, we feel strongly that the best way to encourage good behaviour in children is through a constructive and positive approach. It is important to let children know when they do something wrong, but it is equally important to encourage them when they are doing something right.
Here are some ways to encourage good behaviour in your child.
Be a Good Role Model
Always remember that you are your child’s primary and most important role model. Your child is always watching you and will act like you act, good or bad. If you want your child to be calm and respectful, you will need to act calm and respectful when you are around your child.
Tell Your Child How Their Behaviour Makes You Feel
Always tell your child how their behaviour is making you feel. Make sure to start your sentences with “I”, as in “I am worried when you don’t eat your vegetables because I am afraid you are going to get sick.”
Congratulate Your Child for Good Behaviour
Just like you would catch your child being bad, catch your child being good. For example, you could say, “That was really nice of you to share your toys with your sister.” This is often called “descriptive praise” and some behavioural specialist believe you should praise your child six times for every time you correct them.
Meet Your Child Eye to Eye
When you are interacting with your child, use a chair or even kneel down on the floor and get to their level. It helps your child focus, it is more intimate and it is much less intimidating.
Be an Active Listener for Your Child
When your child talks, be sure to respond with nods, facial expressions and words. This can help your child cope with emotions such as anger that, when left unchecked, can lead to negative behaviour patterns.
Keep Your Promises
Whenever you promise anything to your child, you must keep your promise. Otherwise, your child will learn not to trust you and will imitate the untrustworthy behaviour. It is important that you follow through on any consequences you promise your child because it will keep them from trying to change your mind if they do something bad.
As for rewards, there are not many things more disappointing for a child than to be promised and a reward like ice cream or a walk, only to be given a lame excuse why it’s not going to happen after completing their end of the bargain.
Create an Environment that Encourages Good Behaviour
One of the best ways to keep your child from engaging in bad behaviour is to keep things that could break or could hurt your child out of their sight and out of their reach. Instead, make sure your child has plenty of fun things to play with that are easily within reach.
Don’t Be a Micromanager
When we care about our children we tend to micromanage their every move. This can be unhealthy and can provide too many opportunities for conflict. Whenever you feel like telling your child to stop doing something, ask yourself if it is really necessary. You need to have firm rules but you don’t want to be a parent who is always nagging their child. This causes an adversarial relationship that can have permanent negative effects on the parent-child bond.
Don’t Ever Give In on Whining
If you give in when your child whines even once, it teaches them that whining is effective. Don’t do it.
Stay Positive and Simple
Give your child easy instructions that are positive. Instead of telling your child what not to do, tell your child what to do. This places the image of what you actually want the child to do in their head instead of placing the image of what you don’t want them to do in their head.
Make Your Child Feel Important
Give your child a few simple and easy chores that let them help around the house. Then, be sure to praise them effusively when they complete those tasks and tell them how much of a help they have been. Not only does this build self-esteem, it also gets them in the habit of doing chores and seeing them as something positive.
Call Your Nearest Cuddles Childcare Centre Today
To learn more or to arrange for child care, call the Cuddles Childcare Centre closest to you.
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