Positive parenting skills – not something you’re just born with! They need to be learned and developed over time. Unfortunately, as far as kids are concerned, the landscape is constantly changing. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, they morph into some other hideous creature that you don’t recognize and you’ve got to learn how to subdue! (Just kidding about the hideous creature – who would ever say that about their kid?)
You can get positive parenting skills in many places: Books, friends, classes, online courses, and many more places. In fact, just surfing the web can give you lots of ideas. Some of our favorite parenting books are Parenting Teens with Love and Logic
A good website with lots of great parenting articles is minti.com. This one is full of articles written by experts – parents themselves! Anyone can contribute. Here’s an article called Rules, Boundaries, and Older Children from another great website with tons of good parenting advice.
The best product we’ve found so far that gives us positive parenting skills that are effective, long lasting and cover a huge range of parenting issues is The Total Transformation by James Lehman, MSW. The strategies he uses are simple to learn. They also deal with the heart behind the behavior which is where the long lasting piece comes in.
One of the tips that seems universal and had an immediate effect in our family was the Disconnect technique. The premise of this is to stop communication with your child if they become abusive or disrespectful. Make it a power vacuum, and you’ll be amazed how fast things change. Communication should not resume until the child takes responsibility for their behavior. It is like a pressure release valve for the parent too. Screaming matches be gone!
This tool is just one of many that he outlines in this CD and DVD set. If you have a household that could use some peace and sanity, you need to read more here. Feel free to browse around this website and take away anything you need. We parents need to stick together!
For many more tips and techniques on parenting tools, check out The Total Transformation. It’s one of the best child behavior programs I’ve ever seen – it worked for our family, I’m sure it can work for yours!
James Lehman’s assertion is that kids don’t know how to problem-solve, and that’s why they act out in inappropriate ways. It’s a coping mechanism they’ve developed to force someone else to solve the problem at hand for them. What he does with The Total Transformation Program is help us parents give our kiddos the tools they need to solve their problems. The tools that promote responsibility taking and accountability.
Here are three strategies that you will give a straight forward direction in changing things and doing so immediately.
- Make direct statements. Tell them what you want , firmly and clearly, then walk away. Don’t be afraid of appearing powerless. You’ve made your child accountable for his actions, and to him that’s powerful.
- Disconnect. Stop talking with the child if they become abusive and disrespectful. Make it a power vacuum and things will turn around right away. We started using this strategy and are amazed at the response. Communication does not resume until they admit their responsibility.
- The consequences need to be task-oriented and time-limited. When able, make the punishment fit the crime. Like, “no phone privileges until you finish your schoolwork”. Your child cannot be punished into behavior that is acceptable. It should be short term, not prison term.
In conclusion, don’t expect overnight results. Results will come, trust me, just not all at once. And then the blame will be replaced with gratitude.
A couple of notes – don’t allow your child’s words or actions to affect your handling of the situation. Being consistent is the number one rule in parenting. However, if you mess up, don’t be too hard on yourself. We are also in parenting training (or retraining). One thing you can count on, you will get a second chance to try out your new skills! By the way, these skills and many more are discussed in detail in The Total Transformation by James Lehman.
“Where are the behavior plans for these children?” Does this sound like you? Well look no further, there are behavior plans that will help you parent effectively. And they are simple to use.
James Lehman’s Total Transformation has several key concepts that teach your child responsibility and accountability. You will learn these concepts and also how to use them.
The Passwords
Behavior plans must have solid concepts that have been proven to work. Below are 4 of these that I found gave me results right away. Seeing these type of results gave me confidence in the program as a whole.
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Single Issue focus. Children love to get us off track with an unrelated argument. This trick can easily get you frustrated and make you forget what you wanted to do in the first place. You must be in control of the conversation so you can keep the focus on the issue. You can validate the child’s ‘other’ concern by setting up a time later to discuss it. Don’t be hesitant to have notes if you tend to get easily distracted.
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The Consequences. Be sure to tell your children what the consequences are when you are explaining the rules. These consequences are the best way to respond to bad behavior. They establish law and order. Remember, it is short term structure and values you are trying to maintain. Lasting change, however will not come from the consequences. It will come from the consequences causing them to yearn for their own change. Also base them on your child’s behavior, not what you think they are thinking.
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Selective Attention. While a lot of parenting skills takes fortitude, this one gives you a break. Simply ignore negative behavior that is not important. Behaviors that are meant to get attention can be ignored as long as they are not abusive. Everyone in the family (or involved in caring for the child) must be in on this. The upside to this is that you will pay close attention to positive behavior. This is where your child will benefit the most and where you will start to see a new effort on their part to change.
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Redirect Interest. This concept also utilizes another skill out of your parenting toolbox-creative thinking. When your child is stuck on negative thinking, change the topic. Switching the activity or conversation will stop the downward mood spiral. This concept can also work well when coupled with the above noted Selective Attention. This will also teach them how doing something positive and productive can change their mood.
These are just 4 of the important behavior management plan skills that can positively effect change in your kids without a lot of parenting effort.
For many more tips and techniques for behavior plans for your teens, check out The Total Transformation. It’s one of the best child behavior programs I’ve ever seen – it worked for our family, I’m sure it can work for yours!
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