It can be very frustrating as a parent when we see our children doing things that they know are wrong.

The most important thing is to remain calm when dealing with this behavior.

You want to make sure that your child understands that this behavior is not acceptable and that they will earn consequences for the choices that they have made.

Here are some key points to remember when delivering a consequence:
•Be clear - Make sure that your child knows what the consequence is and exactly what he or she did to earn it.
•Be consistent - Do not give a big consequence for a behavior one time and then ignore the behavior the next time it occurs. Talk to your spouse about how to address behavior and provide similar consequences.
•Be brief - Sometimes clear messages regarding behavior are lost if you lecture endlessly.
•Follow through - If you tell your child he earned a negative or positive consequence, follow through with it. If your daughter talks you out of a negative consequence or if you fail to provide the promised reinforcer, there is little incentive for your daughter to engage in the appropriate behavior in the future.
•Be as pleasant as possible - Research shows that children are more likely to respond positively and learn more from adults who are calm and reasonable, even when the adult is giving negative consequences.

Boys Town National Hotline
1-800-448-3000