The Parent's Guide
Solutions to Today's Most Common Behavior Problems in the Home
The Parent's Guide is an attempt to provide individuals such as parents, teachers, and guardians with the most logical and common sense solutions to everyday problems we sometimes encounter with children.  I hope you find these suggestions helpful.  All information is taken from The Parent's Guide sited at the bottom of the page.

      Helpful Tips If............
Your child does not follow directions.
Your child behaves inappropriately on the bus.
Your child has to have several reminders.
Your child "forgets" to do things.
Your child does not complete chores.
Your child does not consider consequences of behavior.
Your child watches too much TV.
Your child makes excuses.
 
 
 
 

Your Child Does Not Follow Directions
 
1.  Carefully consider your child's age and experience when giving directions to follow.
2.  When your child does not follow a direction, explain exactly what he/she did wrong, what
     should have been done, and why.  for example:  You tell your child to clean up his/her room
     before 5:00.  At 5:00, you tell your child that he/she has not cleaned up the room and that
     he/she needs to follow the directions to clean the room now, because company is coming
     at 6:00.
3.  In order to determine if your child heard a direction, have your child repeat it.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Your Child Behaves Inappropriately On The Bus
 
1.   Encourage your child to report problems that occur on the bus (e.g. being bullied, teased,
     etc...)
2.   Maintain open communication with school personnel in order to make certain that your
      child is riding the bus to and from school in an acceptable manner.
3.   Allowing natural consequences to occur as a result of your child's failure to demonstrate
      appropriate behavior while riding to and from school (e.g. fighting will cause him/her to
      be "kicked off" the bus, not staying seated will result in having to sit behind the bus
      driver, etc...)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Your Child Has To Have Several Reminders
1.   Demonstrate for your child what he/she should do when given a chore (e.g. show your
     child how to take out the trash when told to do so).
2.   Make sure your child is paying attention to you when you tell him/her to do something.
      Have your child look at you to know he/she is listening and have your child repeat the
      directions to check understanding.
3.   Make certain that your child sees the relationship between his/her behavior and the
      consequences which follow (e.g. failing to retrieve a toy from the street results in having
      a broken toy).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Your Child "Forgets" To Do Things.

  1. When your child "forgets" to do something, explain exactly what he/she did wrong, what was supposed to be done and why.  For example: It is 5:20 p.m. and your child is watching T.V. Walk up to your child and say directly to him, "William, it is 5:20.  You are watching T.V. and you are supposed to be setting the table.You need to set the table now because we are going to eat in 10 minutes.
  2. Allow natural consequences to occur due to your child's "forgetting" to take care of responsibilities (e.g., personal possessions being lost, failing a homework assignment, etc...)
  3.  Schedule your child's chores and responsibilities around highly enjoyable activities (e.g., your child may watch T.V. after feeding the dog and taking out the trash).
 
 
 
 
 
 

Your Child Does Not Complete Chores.

1.  Do not assign your child too many chores to complete at once. Provide more
    than enough time to perform the chore.  Do not expect perfection.
2.  Help your child begin his/her chores (e.g. help to open the can of dog food,
     empty a trash can with your child, etc...)
3.  Establish rules for completing chores (e.g. complete chores right after school,
      before you watch T.V., before you go out with friends, etc...).  These rules
      should be consistent and followed by everyone in the home.  Talk about the
      rules often and reward your child for following the rules.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Your Child Does Not Consider Consequences of Behavior

  1. Allow natural consequences to occur due to your child's failure to consider the consequences of his/her behavior (e.g., hitting others will result in being hit in return, stealing will result in being fined, etc...).

  2. Teach your child to be a problem-solver when encountering a personal or school problem:
    Step 1:     Identify the problem.
    Step 2:     Identify goals and objectives.
    Step 3:     Develop strategies.
    Step 4:     Develop a plan of action.
    Step 5:     Carry out the plan.

  3. Provide your child with a clearly identified list of consequences for inappropriate behavior.
     

 

Your Child Watches Too Much TV

1.    Attempt to interest your child in activities other than watching TV (e.g., hobbies, extra-curricular activities at school, playing with friends, etc...).

2.   Establish rules for watching TV (e.g. only 1 hour of TV a day, homework needs to be completed before TV is watched, daily chores need to be completed before TV is watched, etc....).  These rules should be consistent and followed by everyone in the home.  Talk about the rules often.

3.   Turn the TV off after your child watches designated programs.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Your Child Makes Excuses

1.  Carefully consider your child's age before expecting your child to be completely honest about his/her behavior.

2.  Make sure your child knows what is expected (e.g. responsibilities, chores, etc...) at all times.

3.  Be consistent with your child.  Do not discipline one time for misbehavior and tolerate misbehavior the next time. 

 



 

 
 
 
McCarney, S. and Bauer, A.  The Parent's Guide, Columbia, Missouri:  Hawthorne Educational Services, 1989, 1-800-542-1673.  Cost $8.50, order #01300, www.hcsinc.com