Dealing with children's behaviour is a never ending challenge for parents.  Parenting is so much more than managing behaviour.  Parenting is helping children to understand their emotions, and to develop to their fullest potential - with respect for others and themselves.

Children need parents to guide their behaviour.  Giving limits allows children to feel safe, secure and confident.  Praise is the key to increasing desired behaviour.  Any chance you get to "catch children being good" will decrease unwanted behaviour, and increase desired behaviour.

• Look for ways to give compliments.

• Give hugs, lots and lots of hugs!

• Laugh with your child. 

• Show your child how you want them to behave; be a role model.

• Give your child choices.  For example ask "Do you want to have a bath now, or after dinner?"

• Help your child problem solve.

• Give advance notice, e.g., "we are leaving in 10 minutes".

• Use logical consequences. 

• Use "time out" as a "cool out", not as punishment; this helps children learn to calm themselves on their own.

• Set realistic limits.

Praise, hugs, laughter, and knowing yourself and your child, will guide you through the bumps along the way.  Look for these resources, available at the Peterborough Family Resource Centre, and public libraries.

Books
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk, by Faber and Mazlish, (1980); New Your: Avon Books

Videos
Winning at Parenting Without Beating Your Kids, By Barbara Colorosa, (1989), Colorado.

Websites
Child Development, Child & Family Canada:
http://www.cfc-efc.ca/menu/childdev_en.htm