Behaviour Management Tips

Read these 12 Behaviour Management Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Daycare tips and hundreds of other topics.

Behaviour Management Tips has been rated 3.2 out of 5 based on 599 ratings and 1 user reviews.
How do I stop my child from copying bad habits?

Peer Pressure and Bad Habits

When your child begins imitating behaviour you do not like and identifies it with another child she learned it from, take care to not disparage the other child. Realize that your child probably admires this child, or a quality that this child has. Talk to your child about his friend, and make it clear that while you are sure his friend is really wonderful, that this behaviour is not. Point out that everyone has bad habits, and that we need to overcome them, not imitate them.

   
How can I help build self-esteem in my child?

Recognize Accomplishments

When your child has gone out of their way to accomplish something new or special, be sure to praise the outcome. By turning the focus on the accomplishment rather than the child, you help them understand that they can do whatever they set their mind to do.

(This tip submitted by Lisa Pinter, Newsletter Guru)

   
How can I help my child have good self-esteem?

Be a GOOD Role Model

Show the children the things you enjoy doing/learning (or are passionate about) whether it is reading books, taking classes, or trying different hobbies and crafts. If they see you enjoy learning, they're likely to enjoy learning, too!

(This tip submitted by Lisa Pinter, Newsletter Guru)

   
How can I make my child feel liked and accepted?

Be Positive

When preparing to leave your child, be positive. Make it part of your ordinary routine, and don't keep issuing reminders as if it is a special occurrence. That will only serve to heighten your child's anxiety. When dropping off your child, go in and say hello to the staff and children, then say goodbye. Don't linger and prolong the parting, but don't seem in a hurry to be away from your child either as you don't wish to give him the feeling that you are running away.

   
How can I help build self-esteem in my child?

Praise

"Accentuate the positive!" Rather than constantly criticizing negative behavior, praise positive actions (it takes an equal amount of effort!)

(This tip submitted by Lisa Pinter, Newsletter Guru)

   
What do I do when my child is agressive at daycare but not at home?

Aggressive Behaviour

If your child acts like an angel at home but is aggressive at daycare or other large group situations, it is most likely because he is overwhelmed by the situation. Talk to your provider and find out how and when the incidents usually occur. Your child may be doing this to secure attention, even negative attention, from his peers and provider. If it is when someone else is being given attention, then I suggest looking for care where the group is smaller and she will receive more one on one attention. Some children simply need this extra attention until they are emotionally ready to interact with larger groups. Children mature emotionally at different rates and it is best to let them progress comfortably.

   
How do I help my child realize that I am coming back for him?

Establish a Routine

When confronted by a child suffering from separation anxiety, be aware that even though you have always returned for your child, their inability to conceive of time can make them fear your "disappearance."

Your child can overcome this by coming to realize that this is a normal, everyday event. Establish a regular routine for getting ready for care. It is important that this be the same everyday so that it becomes something your child can count on, and in turn, comes to know that part of the regular routine is your return.

Once your routine of getting ready is in place, and your child has had time to settle into the routine, the crying and screaming should stop. It is not instantaneous and can take a few weeks, but be aware that this is a normal childhood fear and every parent has had to deal with it at one point of their child's early childhood or another.

   
How can I make my child feel liked and accepted?

Arrange Playdates

Kids often get despondent because they feel bad that they can't do something another child can, or think that the other children don't like him. Take time to greet the other children when you drop off your child so that they begin to come up to you and your child to say hello. Arrange playdates with children from the center. The more involved your child becomes with her peers, the less likely she is to feel inferior and unliked.

   
How do I get help with potty training?

Time for the Potty?

Don't stress out over something that you can not force. Potty training is suppose to be a pleasant experience and the more tension and pressure there is, the longer it's going to take. It is important to work together with your childcare provider in this matter. Whatever procedure you use, your child's care provider should also be willing to use. If your child care provider cannot follow through there is little point in pursuing the potty training at that time, the same goes for parents. Again open and honest communication is required in this matter.

(This tip submitted by Shirley Sullivan, Kid Guru)

   
My baby/toddler only attached to one teacher, what do I do?

attaching to only one provider ata daycare

Some children form very close bonds with only one of teh providers at their care center. they may scream and cry when that carer is not around. Anyone but that teacher causes tears and clinging. And, if that certain teacher has to go to the restroom or leave the room for a reason, the other teachers can`t calm The child. You may arrive to see your child still crying and yelling at the top of his lungs when you pick him up in the afternoon, after that certain teaacher has gone home from her shift. The other teachersmay try to hold her and calm him, but it never works. What to do?
I have to honestly say that my personal experience with this sort of thing the solution has been a change of childcare arrangements. This behaviour of attaching to only one carer is a personality trait and is not something that will just be outgrown, though he will mature out of the associated behaviours. Perhaps you should consider home daycare for him until he is a bit older, that way when he bonds with his one provider, he will not have that provider leave him to go off shift. Giving your child what he feels he needs to be safe and happy is the way to go so he can mature at his own pace and accept changes to teachers and routines. Keep in mind that it is already a big change to him to go to someone not Mommy but who does the Mommy stuff with him (as she will comprehend it, i.e. the feeding, diapering, playing, etc.) and until he is preschool aged he will not understand the difference in roles, as his teacher is his carer who is stepping in for Mommy at this point, so it is that need that should be met. Once they are preschool aged, they may still show this type of behaviou, so a smaller setting may still be ideal. Some children go through this until they go to regualar school, where one teacher is the norm, so they settle in quite nicely. i would not wrry about it as it is nothing quite serious, as long as his needs are being met emotionally.

   

Transition Time

Simplify transitions by doing the same thing every time. Sometimes a song or short phase can get the children's attention and let them know it is time to move on to another activity.

   
What should I look for in discipline maintenance?

Positive Discipline

Children need and want rules. A truly nurturing adult earns children's respect by being firm and fair in a way that reminds children they are protected by a sturdy protective wall of reasonable limits that surrounds them and keeps them safe. What they don't need is anger and retaliation. Anger is frightening and can cause people to lose control of their actions. The nurturing adult is not hesitant to enforce appropriate rules fairly and firmly.

(This tip submitted by Shirley Sullivan, Kid Guru)

   
Not finding the advice and tips you need on this Daycare Tip Site? Request a Tip Now!


Guru Spotlight
Susan Sayour