Pulling out the time-out chair works like magic for some families, but for others, not so much.
Whether it’s because Mom and Dad are philosophically against time-outs, or because time-outs simply aren’t working on your kid, they’re certainly not the only way to manage your child’s bad behavior. The biggest thing parents can do to steer their child’s behavior in a positive direction? Start with themselves. “The most effective practice any parent can take on in order to shift their children’s behavior is for Mom and Dad to get a hold of themselves first,” says Lisa McCrohan, compassion coach psychotherapist at Georgetown University. “In any stressful situation, if we want our children to learn effective emotional regulation and make good choices, then we as parents have to be the ones to model it.” McCrohan, along with many other experts, feel that practicing mindfulness with ourselves — being in touch with our emotions, nourishing ourselves, thinking before we speak — goes a long way when it comes to our kids’ behavior. That said, we can be as enlightened as Buddha, but kids are still kids, and they aren’t going “behave” 100% of the time. What to do in those situations?
McCrohan, along with many other experts, feel that practicing mindfulness with ourselves — being in touch with our emotions, nourishing ourselves, thinking before we speak — goes a long way when it comes to our kids’ behavior. That said, we can be as enlightened as Buddha, but kids are still kids, and they aren’t going “behave” 100% of the time. What to do in those situations?
Why not try one of these 10 time-out alternatives. They may be a little unconventional, but in the long-run, they will help build loving, trusting relationships with your child while helping them to behave in a positive manner.
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