Child Behaviors Fixing bad child behaviors is a full time job for many parents, as well as for the countless professionals who work with kids. Child psychology is a complex and difficult area, and there are always hidden variables. The key when working with children is to come up with the right balance of flexibility and consistency. You need to give your child a good outlook on right and wrong, but at the same time you need to be able to adapt to new child behaviors that come up. The most important thing to understand when dealing with child problem behaviors is to understand that a child is a rational, thinking creature just like yourself. Of course, depending on the age of the child, there may be some concepts or modes of thinking that he or she does not understand. Nonetheless, there is pretty much always a way to put things in his or her language and explain yourself. If a child asks “why,” don't be afraid to answer. Your kid will respect you more if you are able to answer his questions. At the same time, correcting child behaviors means being able to let the kid know who is boss. As the parent or authority figure, you need to be able to show the kid that your word is law. Don't let everything become an argument. It will be be much more stressful for both you and your child. With bad child behaviors, sometimes you do not have to directly correct the child. Sometimes, you can do just as well by giving the kid something else to do. Redirecting the behavior, finding a constructive alternative, or even distracting the child can sometimes be enough. Just do not resort to bribes when you do not have to. Bribing your child for good behavior teaches the child to only do what she is supposed to for a reward. Sometimes the best way to correct bad behavior is with a child behavior checklist. That way, he or she will know exactly what is expected of him from day one. You can give stars or positive attention in exchange for good behavior. After a few weeks, you can even sometimes give out a reward without any negative repercussions. Just don't make it a system of constant bribes, or the child will never improve. The real key is to use intermittent reinforcement. Soon, the child will internalize your ideas of right and wrong. Summary Child behaviors that are unacceptable need to be dealt with quickly and consistently. Children need to understand the rules of the house and for life. Parents need to enforce these rules and maintain consistent in following through to correct bad behavior. Use tools like lists to help kids understand where the limits are for your household. Related Articles Child Discipline Behavior of Children Behavior Modification For Children Related Sites