Turn a negative into a positive! Not only does the teacher or parent get a mental break, but the child gets a chance to calm down. Now, let's take it up a notch: before the child leaves the time out, have him/her think of a positive behavior or two he will implement immediately following!!! For… Continue reading Improving Time Outs!
Month: April 2013
The Beauty of a Tantrum
I don't mind a tantrum! It is a sign that the child's behavior is on the cusp of change. They have hit a wall and they are upset. Now that the wall is clearly delineated in their consciousness, they will act accordingly. Until the tantrum, they have been testing and testing to see where the… Continue reading The Beauty of a Tantrum
The Beauty of Your Word
It becomes so helpful when you mean what you say and you say what you mean. Yes, we have all heard it but try it! Outlandish consequences that are impractical and impossible are great for humor but the child will keep testing the boundaries. They know you cannot fulfill that consequence. For example, never use… Continue reading The Beauty of Your Word
The Beauty of Storytelling
When children have been naughty, and are having a hard time changing their pattern of behavior, it is so helpful to tell a story that addresses the situation. A story that gives the child a snapshot of what that type of behavior can lead to. One interesting technique is actually quite easy to implement. At… Continue reading The Beauty of Storytelling
The Beauty of Singing
Why speak when you can sing? Words can be so dreary, dull, and fall like stones! Singing turns every word into a dance, and children follow!
The Beauty of Choice.
When a child is emotionally engaged, about to go into a full-on tantrum, the best way to help is to offer a clear simple choice. This gets them back into thinking. Once the thoughts are engaged, the emotions calm down. It lifts them out of their frustration for they see they are given a bit of freedom in… Continue reading The Beauty of Choice.
