We’re all rooting for our kids to be their best selves, but it’s not going to happen all the time. So it’s easy to be frustrated when they’re not cooperating, whether it’s avoiding homework, ignoring instructions, fighting with a sibling, or goofing around at soccer practice. But calling out kids on the behavior you want to stop doesn’t work very well. What does work? Giving positive attention.

This week at childmind.org, we’re talking about the power of praise, and how giving positive attention to the behavior you want to see in your child creates more of the same. We have suggestions to make your praise more effective as well as common traps that lead parents to inadvertently reward the behavior they are trying to discourage. We discuss how to identify triggers for problem behavior, so you can change the dynamic before it develops. And since focusing on good behavior doesn’t mean eliminating consequences when kids misbehave, we have tips on how to use time-outs effectively.

— Michelle Shih, Managing Editor | ✉