Articles on Parenting

There’s nothing really complicated about using time-out for serious behaviour   (a.k.a naughty chair, naughty step, solitary confinement).  It does work…if done properly.  Time-out is suitable for 2 – 10 year olds.

Use time-out for those more serious problems such as fighting and/or hurting others. Continue reading “How to Manage Child Behaviour Problems – Using Time-Out for Serious Behaviour”

There are many ways parents can deal with child behaviour problems.

The discipline strategies that I will be sharing with you in the next few posts are all derived from the Positive Parenting Program or Triple P.

How to manage child behaviour problems by setting clear ground rules (3 – 12 years)

Continue reading “How to Manage Child Behaviour Problems”

This is one of the most common questions I get asked in my private practice – How can I get my child to behave?

Without knowing  what precise concern or issue brought you to this post, I will give you some tips but, more often than not, most parents have solutions to behavioural issues but they don’t realise this until we start working together.

The best trick in the book to getting your child to behave is by encouraging good behaviour.

I’ll give you 3 tips that I frequently share with my Triple P clients (Triple P stands for Positive Parenting Program)

Continue reading “Behaviour Problems in Children – How Can I Get my Child to Behave”

There’s so much to say on how to develop good positive parent-child relationship that there’s no way I would be able to cover everything here in one article.

Then again, there isn’t that much because the bottom line is that, once we stop trying to be perfect parents and put ourselves in our children’s shoes, then things can fall into place, slowly but surely. Continue reading “How to Develop a Good Positive Parent-Child Relationship”

Whenever I mention child behaviour charts to parents, I get an assortment of reactions.

Some refer to these charts as kids reward charts, child behaviour charts or sticker charts.  They are essentially the same thing…and used properly, they do work.

Some swear that they have tried using them and that they don’t work at all while others have never ventured down that road and cannot see how they would help.

Continue reading “How to Use Child Behaviour Charts Effectively and Successfully”

If your child is notorious for not doing as asked, here is a simple strategy you could try.

Each time you need him to do something:

1. stop what you’re doing
2. go up close to you child (arms length is good)
3. get down to their level (eye level) and say their name
4. tell them what you need them to do calmly and matter of factly – don’t ask them e.g. Josh, would you like to go brush your teeth now – tell them instead e.g. Josh it’s time for you to go and brush your teeth. Please go now.
5. don’t leave her side, instead stay close and for wait 5 seconds and if she doesn’t budge, then repeat your instruction again
6. wait for another 5 seconds
7. if there’s still no movement then follow the non-compliance with a logical consequence i.e. one that fits the purpose and that you can act on immediately
8. if on the other hand your child complies remember to praise them – Thank you for doing as I asked.  Praise is more efficient as a behaviour management strategy than punishment

When giving an instruction:

1. ensure that it is clear and direct
2. don’t give too many instructions in one go
3. ensure that it is indeed something that your child is capable of doing e.g. a 3 year old being asked to tidy up his or her bedroom is almost setting the child up to fail
4. timing is everything – ensure that your instruction is well timed. Asking your child to come and have dinner in the middle of their favourite TV program is asking for trouble
5. some children will need time warnings, so if you know that you need your child to have a bath at 6:00 pm for instance, start telling him or her at least 30 mins before and in intervals of 10 or 15 mins depending on your child. If you think your child needs more warning then start earlier.

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In these videos, I use Triple P parenting strategies (Positive Parenting Program) to show you how to deal with toddler sleep problems. If you are a parent who is constantly thinking, “I can’t get my child to sleep!!” then this video is for you.

Video 1 – Toddler Sleep Problems – Prevention)

Video 2 – How to get your toddler to stay quietly in bed.

Video 3 –  looks at what to do when your toddler won’t stay quietly in bed.

Continue reading “Toddler Sleep Problems – Prevention and Cure the Triple P way”

I once worked with a couple who were absolutely convinced that their children (3 and 6 years)  were super manipulators.  They believed that the children had come up with some sort of game plan to get what they wanted. Continue reading “Parenting Myth 6 – My Child Has Manipulative Behaviours”

The answer to this question –  why does this child need “special” training while the others didn’t or don’t – is that no one actually knows why this happens to siblings within the same family.

If you have more than one child, then you have probably thought this at some point or other. Continue reading “Parenting Myth 5 – Why Does my Child Need Behaviour Modification Training and the Others Didn’t?”

How often have you said, or at the very least thought, that because your child has done something once or twice, that he should be able to continue doing it.

Your child may have been able to put on her shoes all by herself yesterday and the day before, but today she seems to be struggling, is unable to do it or just doesn’t want to cooperate. Continue reading “Parenting Myth 4 – Behavioural Issues in children – “I know you can do it because you’ve done it before!””