November 14th, 2020

                                                    

STOP UNWANTED BEHAVIOUR IN IT'S TRACKS

Do you sometimes feel you are tell your children what not to do all the time? It can be easy to slip into this habit, after all children are programmed to do things they are not meant to aren't they? Here's an alternative to telling your children off that can prevent unwanted behaviour in the first place. It's basically a simple distraction technique and one that most parents of toddlers quickly learn to use, without realising  (like a lot of ideas that are commonly used on younger children) that it can be  adapted for older children and is just as effective.

Instead of saying:
​'Stop jumping on the sofa' say 'Let's look behind the cushions, there might be some money down there.'
​Instead of saying: 'Play nicely or I'll take it away' say 'That looks fun, can I have a go.' Instead of saying: 'Don't make a fuss' say 'I know it's hard, shall I help you.' 
This is a great way to transform what could be a negative interaction to a positive one. ​