Tips to Combat Behavior Nightmares

The following are some common behavior nightmares, and how to address them:

Tantrums- if your child is throwing tantrums constantly, and seems to be throwing tantrums more than not, your best bet is to first discover the reason. Are they having tantrums because they lack other means of communicating frustration? Or are they throwing tantrums because they want attention? If it is the first, then the best thing you can do is redirect, and then address their feelings. Help them learn to verbalize their feelings rather than have a tantrum. Do so calmly, not giving in to a tantrum, but working through it instead. If they are having a tantrum in order to gain attention, then ignore them when they have one. If it does not work, they will quickly abandon the method.

Not eating- If you have a picky eater, or a child who refuses to eat anything other than junk, it can be a real struggle. The best solution is to consistently require them to try their food, and not give in to tantrums and other means of getting out of eating. Prepare the same meal for everyone, make them try it. If they choose not to, let them go hungry. This can be difficult to do, but if you provide healthy, tasty options, and they don’t try them, do not give in and give them what they want, or they never will.

Lying- Kids lie, but sometimes it gets out of hand. One of the best things you can do when your child is lying is hold them accountable. Do not get angry, do not yell or scream. Instead, put the child on a time out until they are ready to tell the truth. If it never happens, after about ten minutes, let them off. Let them play for a while, or go back to what they were doing, but then, a few minutes later, talk to them again. If they insist on lying, back on time out. Continue this cycle. A child will soon learn that lying is not worth the price they pay.

Bullying- If your child is bullying the problem may get severe if you do not step in. The first thing you need to do is talk to them about it. The second is figure out why they are bullying. Often they are insecure, or want attention from peers and do not know how to get it. So, help them develop talents and skills that will help them get what they want in a more constructive manner.

Stealing- Some kids are kleptomaniacs, or at least it seems that way. When a child is consistently stealing, the behavior needs to be addressed. Each and every time they are caught, they need to be held responsible. They need to return the item, apologize, and do something to make up for it. For example, if they steal a dollar from a sibling, they should return the dollar, apologize, and give them some of their money as well. Kids will learn quickly when it costs them to steal that it is not really worth it.