Thanks for reaching out to Education.com!

It is not uncommon for kids to be perfect at school and more difficult at home. It could be an indication that you can make changes in your parenting style and discipline which will affect your son's behavior. If this is the case, this is good news since most likely he is not experiencing a chemical imbalance or something neurological, but rather something behavioral which can be modified over time.

At school the expectations are high, there is structure and the rules are very clear. Most kids thrive on routines and knowing what their day is going to look like. We are not saying your home needs to be set up like a school, but it can help the day and night to run smoother when there are routines especially around mealtime and bedtime.

We suggest Common Sense Parenting as a tool for disciplining school age children. This approach uses praise as well as logical consequences to help shape a child's behavior. Most libraries and bookstores carry the book, "Common Sense Parenting, Using Your Head as Well as Your Heart to Raise School Aged Children", by Burke, Heron and Barnes. CSP classes for parents are help in many different cities an towns and many schools use this technique with their children. You can find more information about the Common Sense Parenting approach by going to our website: www.parenting.org

Boys Town also have a Hotline for parents with children of all ages. Counselors are available 24 hours, 7 days a week to listen and give guidance to many different parenting issues. We can be reached on our toll-free phone or by e-mail.

Take care and keep reaching out! We hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Cynthia, Counselor
Boys Town National Hotline
1-800-448-3000
hotline@boystown.org