Encouragement to Good Behavior

As parents, we expect our children to have good behavior.  At times, our expectations are not met, sometimes more frequently than we would like.  It would be nice if it were as easy as using a miracle room or magic wand to solve this issue, but there is not.  So, how do you deal with misbehavior?  Well, you can choose to use different methods.  You can be a manager, a modifier, or an encourager.  One thing we do NOT want to become is a dictator.  Becoming a manager or modifier, puts you in charge of a child’s actions.  He or she is not given control of their behavior, but instead are ordered or forced into a behavior pattern.  Of the three options, the best choice is to become an encourager. 

Being an encourager is the nurturing way of parenting and dealing with behavior and is the most successful way.  Of course, sometimes it is necessary for us to step in and become the manager or modifier.  We can do this with rule setting, and making consequences for choices clear.  We can also use time-outs or loss of privileges as a physical type of punishment.  These should be the last option.  If we can encourage our children to behave without becoming a dictating parent, our children can become more active in the decision to be of good behavior.

Reward your child for good behavior by offering praise, hugs and high-fives, special privileges, physical rewards like stickers or toys, or allowances.  I try as a teacher to encourage good behavior and keep the classroom positive; this is also important in the home and with my children.  I’d much rather encourage good behaviors, than have to discourage bad behaviors. 

There are times that we have to use our modifying and managing techniques of discipline, but when we keep our children encouraged of their good behaviors, we can eliminate a lot of the negative ways of dealing with behavioral issues, and create a much more nurturing environment.