How to Improve Your Child's Behavior: Expert-Approved Techniques (2023)

Many parents find it difficult to distinguish typical child behavior from atypical child behavior. Sometimes all children exhibit misbehavior as a standard part of child development, so it can be difficult to understand where the line is. Regardless, one thing is certain: most parents want to know how to encourage good behavior in their children.

In general, positive attention for good behavior and effective consequences for negative behavior can go a long way. However, every child is different. So what do you need to know to improve your child's behavior?

In this article, we take a look at understanding typical child behavior and ways to improve your child's behavior, including how Joon can help. Then we'll go over tips for rewarding children's good behavior.

Understand typical behavior in children

It is important to know and understand the typical behavior of children. Your child's age and developmental level play a role in their behavior. Younger children in particular sometimes push the limits and test them. A young child, out of natural curiosity and a willingness to experiment, may exhibit misbehavior here and there. With that in mind, some "bad" behavior is to be expected at a lower level.

The context also plays a role. During times of high stress, children may be more prone to misbehavior that would be unacceptable the rest of the time. This differs from persistent or abnormal misconduct, which may require specific techniques and professional assistance. When should a parent or family worry? Any dangerous behavior that can harm yourself or others should not be ignored. In this case, mental health support from a counselor, therapist, social worker or psychologist can be helpful.

If your child has ADHD or another condition, develop an understanding of your child's symptoms and why they occur, as there may be a need to manage a child's behavior more productively. ADHDmay coexist with other disorders. This may in some cases be relevant to a child's behavior.

How to improve your child's behavior

If power struggles arise in your family, you are not alone. The right approach can help make your home calmer for both you and your child. You may be surprised at what practices are most helpful to your family. Here are some ways parents can encourage better behavior in children.

Try to help Joon

Joon is a homework app and game that encourages good behavior in children. Designed for kids with ADHD and related disorders, Joon is a great way to reduce power struggles, boost self-esteem, and encourage healthy habits. Thats how it works:

Adults first register with the Joon Parent app and create a personalized to-do list for their kids. You can add unlimited tasks including chores, chores, personal hygiene activities or any other part of your child's routine. Kids connect to a separate app called Joon Pet Game. As kids complete tasks, they receive rewards that allow them to take care of a virtual pet named Doter and advance in the game.

90% of kids using Joon complete all tasks assigned by adults. Many parents say that Joon improved their father-son relationship. Joon has an average rating of 4.7 stars out of 5 on the App Store, with over 4,000 reviews from parents like you.

Click here to try it for free.

Notice the desired behavior and praise it

Rewarding good behavior is a great way to improve your child's overall behavior. When a child misbehaves frequently, it's important to remember the need to reward good behavior. Even with small wins, give your child positive reinforcement.

Get to know your triggers

We all have triggers that can affect our behavior, including children. Try to spot patterns affecting your child. For example, do tiredness, hunger or sensory overload make an outbreak more likely? Once you know what a child's triggers are, you can create a game plan and set them up for success. Depending on what they are, this could mean avoiding certain triggers or finding ways to control them.

If you need help identifying patterns and triggers,Try behavior or tantrum tracking apps.

Provide direct expectations for specific behaviors.

A critical component of effective parenting is not relying on common sense in parenting your child. If you want your child to do something, be specific.

For example, if you want them to put toys off the floor in their toy basket, you can say "put your toys in this basket" instead of just "tidy up your room." If you want kids to do multi-step tasks like For example, when tidying up her room, it can be helpful to break down each step into several smaller, more specific steps.

Explain all behavioral expectations equally clearly, whether you want a child to speak softly in a particular environment or something else. Don't assume your child understands what's between the lines.

Be a role model for positive behavior

Model the behavior you want to see, remembering not to engage in the behaviors you want your child to stop. For example, raising your voice makes it harder for a child to stop. You may feel confused and will certainly question double standards.

Likewise, if you make a mistake, apologize and forward yourself as you wish. When you show a child that they can apologize and change their behavior, you are showing them that they can do the same.

teach coping skills

All children should learn about emotions and healthy coping skills. Help your child learn coping skills that can help with self-control and strong feelings, such as: B. Breathing exercises or apologizing when you are angry and need a break.

Don't ignore challenging behavior

While it's true that many children prefer negative attention to inattention, and that it can be okay not to pay attention to your child because of some bad behaviors, it's also important not to ignore themchallenging or dangerous behavior. If a child is misbehaving, deal with it to the best of your ability.

Depending on the situation and the family, this can be anything from gently informing the child of their mistake and helping correct the behavior, to allowing for natural consequences, to concrete, explained consequences for your child.

Just as you want to clearly explain rewards and expectations, effective consequences need to be explained. Explain the consequences to your child. For example, instead of just saying, "You're on time off," tell them why.

solve problems together

Sometimes parents and children have the opportunity to find a solution together. Children struggling with impulsivity may say, "I didn't mean to do this, it just happened" or "I couldn't control myself." It's not an excuse, but it gives you the opportunity to find a solution together. Listen actively. If a child is constantly struggling with certain things, you can consider replacement behaviors during a quiet time.

keep promises

Make sure what you say and what you do is consistent. Children need to know that they can take your word for it. If you say you will provide a reward or consequence for a certain behavior but don't, they learn that they can't trust your words and are less likely to work.

Tips for rewarding good behavior

We talked a bit about how important it isGive your child positive reinforcement.and reward desired behavior, but how do you do that? Here are some tips to reward good behavior in children.

Choose rewards that work

For rewards to work, you need to choose effective rewards that will appeal to your child. Consider your child's age and interests and what makes sense for their current age group or developmental level. Some of the ideas for rewards for children include:

• A token system. With token systems, kids can accumulate tokens over time and exchange them for bigger rewards when they have enough, like a new piece of clothing for school or a concert. This can be ideal for older children and teenagers.
• Go to bed later. Some children may be motivated by a reward, e.g. B. staying up half an hour later.
• screen time. For example, an extra hour of video game time, computer time, or time to watch a TV show.
• Experiences and activities For example excursions like going to the park.
• small parts such as stickers.

Think about what will be truly rewarding for your child. Some parents find it helpful to let their child participate in reward decisions, but it may not work for other children.

Give verbal praise

We talked a bit about making sure we don't underestimate the power of positive feedback. Even if it's in conjunction with another reward, be sure to verbally give your child positive feedback. To better encourage your child, praise specific actions. For example, you could say, "That came in handy when you were putting away your toys. Thank you!” This helps children learn what behaviors are desired.

What Causes Bad Behavior in Children?

Again, no child is perfectly behaved all the time. Slight and infrequent misconduct may be normal. But what if the bad behavior is an ongoing or daily problem? More than one factor or cause can explain child misbehavior. If there is an unexplained but steady increase in bad behavior, you should pay attention and investigate it. Note when the behavior changes began and consider whether the following factors might play a role.

• Unmet emotional needs (for example, one may feel upset, angry, or misunderstood)
• Unmet physical needs (eg, low blood sugar, lack of sleep)
• Unmet sensory needs (eg, itchy clothes, too hot or cold, noisy environments)
• Trauma, increased stress or significant life changes
• Mental disorders and other diseases

Disorders like ADHD canlead to changed behavior. In this case, in addition to treatment, additional work on the child's behavior may be required. Focus more on coping skills, rewards for good behavior, positive discipline, creating healthy and supportive routines, and learning triggers. Working with a professional, such as a therapist or counselor, can help children change their behavior and understand and manage feelings effectively. This is highly recommended if behavioral or mental health problems persist.

Carry

There are ways parents can encourage desired behaviors in children and help them improve their overall behavior. Positive attention in the form of verbal praise, explanations that help children understand desired behavior and the consequences of their actions, and the use of an appropriate reward system can be valuable. For children with ongoing mental or behavioral health problems, seek professional help for support and guidance.