It’s Mommy Tips Monday once again! Have a tip to share? Be sure to link up at the end of this post.
I have been thinking lately about how, so many times, when my children are misbehaving, there is an underlying issue. If I find my kids fighting with their siblings a lot or just acting up more than usual, it is usually a cry for attention.
If my kids are not performing up to what I know they are capable of in school or with chores or responsibilities, it is often be because they need encouragement and affirmation. Of course kids don’t usually have an awareness of these underlying issues and often times we, as parents miss them too. All too often I just get onto my kids to stop fighting with each other and change their attitudes. When I really think about it though, my children are so much more pleasant to be around when their needs for quality time and affirmation are met.
During that quality time I can teach my kids how to handle situations with sibling rivalry, or disappointment, or whatever situations may arise. Times of non conflict are the perfect times to be proactive in teaching our kids what being kind, doing our best, having patience and good manners looks like. It’s the times when the conflict has already arisen that everyone is already too upset to really think rationally about what went wrong.
I find that these principles work with children from about 3 and up. If there are behavior issues you cannot figure out, think about how much time you are spending with your child. Do they feel safe? Do they know, and hear often that they are loved? Are they affirmed just for who they are? Point out their giftings. Really listen to them. Spend time with them in their space. If you do these things I am pretty sure you’ll see some changes in behavior from them.
How do you handle bad behavior? Have you noticed certain things that help or make it worse?
