One way to help your children behave is to “catch them being good.” Why is it important to “catch the good?” Research has shown that children often engage in behaviors as a way to get their parents attention. So, if sitting quietly at dinner does not grab their parent’s attention, they may resort to misbehaving so that their parents will notice them. If, however, the child’s parent praises their child for sitting quietly at the dinner table, the child will be more likely to repeat this behavior in order to obtain praise.
While this sounds like a relatively easy task, most people report that it is much easier to notice what needs to be changed rather than what is going “good.” Oftentimes, it is harder to notice when kids are doing things right than to notice the negative behaviors. Some tricks include:
÷ Start small- Don’t wait for your child to complete a task or chore perfectly! Praise them for their effort and initiative at starting a task.
÷ Set a goal for the number of times that you are going to praise your child throughout the day. Keep track of it to make sure you are reaching your goals.
÷ Try to make sure that you our providing praise during times when your child’s behavior is more difficult.
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Very good article. I believe the fundamental part of getting along with young children is talking to them the appropriate way.