Tag Archives: behavior problems

The Problem with Pinching

Many of us have known children (quite possibly our own) who have a temporary problem with biting as frustrated toddlers, but pinching can also be a problem that parents have a hard time figuring out how to curb. A sign or aggression, pinching can pop up unexpectedly and is more common to younger children—toddlers and preschool age, but can be found in early elementary-aged kids as well. What can you do as a parent to put an end to pinching behaviors? Whether your child is pinching as a means of retaliation or is the one using pinching as aggressive behavior … Continue reading →

Mom Calls Police On Own Son

I had to look at my calendar to make sure it was December and not April 1st. When I came across this story I was certain it was a joke but apparently it’s the real deal. Seems a South Carolina mother called the police on her own son. That’s not that unusual, many parents turn their own kids in for crimes. But what is so amazing to me about this story is the crime itself. The crime was, get this, opening a Christmas present early. The police actually arrested the kid and charged him with petty larceny. The boy’s great … Continue reading →

C.H.O.I.C.E.S. When Handling Conflicts With Your Kids

When many parents experience conflicts with their children they are sometimes at a loss as to how to respond appropriately. In their book, Battles, Hassles, Tantrums and Tears, authors Susan Beekman and Jeanne Holmes outlines a strategy they call C.H.O.I.C.E.S. This technique is a way of effectively handling conflicts between adults and children as well as conflicts between children. C.H.O.I.C.E.S. can be used to set limits and to generate new solutions to old problems. Here’s how the strategy works: Command by giving clear instructions, specifying what you want the child to do in a non-humiliating way. Humor or surprise your … Continue reading →

Tips: Staying Calm When Your Kids Are Misbehaving

One of the biggest challenges we as parents face is trying to stay calm when our children are acting out. In Common Sense Parenting, the authors offer some suggestions on how not to blow our top when confronted with a misbehaving child. The first thing they point out is that getting steamed won’t help the situation, in fact, it could make it worse. We have to know what it is that makes us angry in the first place so that we will be able to deal with our kids when a behavior problem rears its ugly head. If you find … Continue reading →

Conduct Disorder: A Frightening Reality

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When I first heard of conduct disorder, I wondered whether it was some conjured up name for kids who’ve been badly parented. I mean, honestly… “conduct” disorder? Have we gone so far with creating disorders and diseases that we’re giving bad behavior a medical excuse? But the symptoms of conduct disorder are so shockingly anti-social that, one must reason that something has gone wrong in the child’s psyche. This is not merely the case of a spoiled, manipulative child who throws tantrums. The child with conduct disorder has a surprising inability to feel empathy for other living things. This is … Continue reading →

Make a Terrific Transition Board!

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Does your child have difficulty transitioning from one activity to the next? Does he scream, wail, and tantrum when it’s time to stop playing and go to bed? Does she protest loudly when it’s time to take a bath, then protest again when it’s time to get out of the tub? The problem for many children with disabilities is that they require order and predictability to feel safe. Most of the time, activities seem to be “sprung” on them without warning. “Jessica, put the toys away, it’s time to go shopping with Mommy,” etc. The child feels confused and overwhelmed … Continue reading →

Training: Using Training Disks

Sometimes the element of surprise is the best way to help your dog unlearn a bad behavior. Training disks are great at shocking a dog out of whatever they’re doing: drop the disks on the floor and they make a great clatter. It is so sudden and so surprising that the dog will be surprised enough to stop being bad. Take the example of a sheltie that belongs to a friend of the family. That dog does not like having visitors to the house. She loves her family, but that’s about it. So when people come over, the dog makes … Continue reading →

Adapting Your Home Environment to Minimize Behavior Problems

As children grow, they constantly test the boundaries of acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Special-needs children, who may be easily over-stimulated or agitated by their surroundings, are in even greater need of structure and a controlled environment. As a parent, you can help dramatically decrease your child’s outbursts, tantrums, and other difficult behaviors by taking charge of the physical surroundings in your home. 1. Create a “free play” space for your child. Find a safe place in your home that you can set apart as your child’s free territory to explore. Put down a child-friendly carpet to help designate the area … Continue reading →