pelers
Active Member
So last night I hit up the class put on by the Judy Center about "positive behavior management" for children up to 5 years old. I thought it was some really good stuff and hopefully I'll be able to put a lot of the changes into practice.
We've been having major problems with shrieking, hitting and kicking lately. He shrieks at everything and nothing at all. We've tried telling him no shrieking, we've tried time outs, swats to the bum, ignoring him... nothing has made the least bit of difference. Same with the hitting and kicking. Smack his hands/feet, tell him no, time outs, etc.
Something that was mentioned in the class was that rather than telling them "No! Don't do *whatever*!" to try and tell them something they COULD do instead. It's like telling somebody to not think of a purple elephant, you instantly start thinking of that purple elephant. Same thing when you tell them not to do something. So when he shrieks, try saying something like "Let's use our inside voices" or some other behavior you'd prefer them to exhibit. With hitting use examples of nice things that can be done with hands, same with the kicking.
Another thing they suggested for kids that act out physically like that is to make a "Stomping Square". Use some painter's tape and section off a small square somewhere. Draw some footprints inside of it and then when they get angry about something you can direct them to that square where they can stomp and rage until they get it all out. Just creating safe spaces for getting anger and frustration out.
Some other things I'm going to try and do are to start implementing more firm routines. We kind of have a routine, but with me taking night classes (one more night and then I'm DONE!
) and the hubby having bowling, things tend to be rather half-assed at times. Naptime has been based on when he starts acting like a PITA. Bedtime is time based. We'll try creating a routine to build up to those things, clearly outlining it to him ("We're going to do this, and then this, and then we're going to lay down and take a nap.") that way he knows what is coming.
A lot of good information from the class, and I'm really glad I went. Hoping they put it on again so I can ship the hubby off to it.
We've been having major problems with shrieking, hitting and kicking lately. He shrieks at everything and nothing at all. We've tried telling him no shrieking, we've tried time outs, swats to the bum, ignoring him... nothing has made the least bit of difference. Same with the hitting and kicking. Smack his hands/feet, tell him no, time outs, etc.
Something that was mentioned in the class was that rather than telling them "No! Don't do *whatever*!" to try and tell them something they COULD do instead. It's like telling somebody to not think of a purple elephant, you instantly start thinking of that purple elephant. Same thing when you tell them not to do something. So when he shrieks, try saying something like "Let's use our inside voices" or some other behavior you'd prefer them to exhibit. With hitting use examples of nice things that can be done with hands, same with the kicking.
Another thing they suggested for kids that act out physically like that is to make a "Stomping Square". Use some painter's tape and section off a small square somewhere. Draw some footprints inside of it and then when they get angry about something you can direct them to that square where they can stomp and rage until they get it all out. Just creating safe spaces for getting anger and frustration out.
Some other things I'm going to try and do are to start implementing more firm routines. We kind of have a routine, but with me taking night classes (one more night and then I'm DONE!
) and the hubby having bowling, things tend to be rather half-assed at times. Naptime has been based on when he starts acting like a PITA. Bedtime is time based. We'll try creating a routine to build up to those things, clearly outlining it to him ("We're going to do this, and then this, and then we're going to lay down and take a nap.") that way he knows what is coming.A lot of good information from the class, and I'm really glad I went. Hoping they put it on again so I can ship the hubby off to it.
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