The Essence Of Behavior Management

When confronted with a child behavior problem the tendency can be to overreact and accept any advice that comes your way from professionals as well as family and friends. Take your time and assess the situation ensuring the safety and supervision of your child, and then formulating a plan of action.

Simple But Not Easy

Although the essence of managing childhood behavior is simplicity itself, it is not easy. Reason being is because it requires us to stick to our decisions while under fire. Children know all of our buttons to push, and they do not welcome change with open arms. So expect the resistance upfront, and don't get blown away by it, because you will be tested.

In fact, you can expect the challenging behavior to increase once you implement any change or strategy. This is actually a good thing even though it does not seem so at the time. You got your child's attention, and he or she does not like it. They are not getting their own way like before.

The Essence

Okay here is the essence of any long term behavior change. Set limits and stick to those limits even when it is uncomfortable to do so. Sounds simple but when in the middle of an interaction, your tendency is to want to give in. Do your best not to, and don't beat yourself up if you do. This is a learning process for you as well, and you both get to grow together.

If we charted this on a graph, we would see an immediate increase in the behavior until it peaks, and then there will be a continuous drop off of that behavior as the child recognizes that you are serious about this. Now each situation is unique until itself, so be prepared to stay proactive, but also you will need to react to any surprises along the way. For help with managing your child's behavior, check out The Total Transformation Program.

Learning Experience

This is a learning experience for both you and your child. Over the many years of working in mental health in direct service, I am grateful for how much these kids have taught me, and allowed me to grow. My interventions and planting of positive seeds with them pales to what each child with whom I have worked have positively added to my life.

Last thing is when setting up guidelines with your kids get them involved in their creation. Make the buy in more easier for them. Praise and encourage them when they do things correctly. This is so important. Always correct the behavior; not the child. Your child is wonderful just as he or she is. They have merely picked up some annoying behaviors along the way that need to be addressed.

So keep you behavior management simple by realizing the need to be consistent once limits are set. Recognize that you will make mistakes along the way, and have patience with yourself as well as with your child. Evaluate your progress over time, and make any necessary changes. Once again, this is both a destination and a journey, and the most important time is right this moment.

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