Parents have many jobs in any given day. There is cleaning to do, dinner to prepare, and laundry to finish. It is all too easy to get involved with these household tasks and forget about your child until he or she does something to catch your attention. This often happens when he/she has done something wrong. A fight with a younger brother, breaking something, or hurting the animal is sure to catch a parent’s attention. But, it is important to avoid a cycle of only paying attention to your child when he/she misbehaves. It is critical to notice good behavior. When a parent notices good behavior and praises or rewards that behavior, it will happen more often. The following are some suggestions for rewarding good behavior.
As a general rule, at least three to five positive statements (“Jeri, you’re playing so nicely) should be given to every correction (“Carlos, please stay at the table until dinner is over”). This will improve your relations with your child, make him/her a happier person, and lead to better behavior.