Yelling at a child will not change her behavior.
Getting a child to change his behavior requires a commitment to the process on your part. Changing behavior is not as simple as telling a child one time to change something. You must work with the child and lead by example to make effective change.
Instructions
1. React to an instance of bad behavior immediately. This is especially important if the behavior is dangerous to the child or others. Avoid screaming or using profanities, however, you must react right away to get his attention. Your initial reaction will let the child know the behavior that just occurred is unacceptable.
2. The way in which you respond to your child in the immediate aftermath of an incident lets her know you are unhappy with her actions. Let her finish giving her explanation or apology after you make your initial reaction. Respond to her words or actions by again stating that you do not approve or appreciate the bad behavior.
3. Review the incident with the child after telling him that you do not approve of his actions. Use your own words and explain the event in detail. Use descriptive terms to explain to the child specifically why the behavior was bad or unacceptable. Let him defend his behavior after you have finished speaking.
4. After she has explained to you, in her own words, why she behaved in the manner she did, you must once again reply to her explanation. Tell her again why the behavior was wrong.
5. Repeat the correction process after every occurrence of bad behavior. This is of the utmost importance when the behavior issue is one that is repeated often by the child. Every time the same issue arises, you must tell him he was wrong, explain why, and then review the incident to further illustrate how and why the behavior is considered unacceptable.
Tags: change behavior, initial reaction, that approve, with child
