Behavior Management Plans for Children – 4 Strategies
“Where are the behavior plans for these children?” Does this sound like you? Well look no further, there are behavior plans that will help you parent effectively. And it is simple to use.
In the Total Transformation Program by James Lehman, MSW there are several key concepts that promote responsibility taking and accountability on your kids’ part. Your job is to learn these concepts and how to use them.
The Passwords
There are several secret parenting passwords or behavior management plan tools listed in this program. I have picked out 4 of these concepts that will get you immediate positive results in parenting your children.
1. Focus on a Single Issue. Kids love to get the spotlight off them and have a myriad of techniques to do so. One is bringing up another problem when you are trying to discuss something else. Don’t go down that path, even if you need to have notes to keep you on track. You can tell them you will discuss their issue at a later time. Then go ahead with your point. You will definitely experience less frustration, always a good thing in parenting.
2. Consequences. All rules have consequences and it is only right to let the kids know what both are. Your job is to follow through with them. Consequences are a preferrable way to handle bad behavior because they establish a sense of right and wrong. They also maintain structure and values, in the short term. Do know that lasting change does not come from the consequences. What they do is make the child own their change. You cannot base the consequences on assumptions of what your child may be thinking. Only on their behavior.
3. Selective Attention. While a lot of parenting skills takes fortitude, this one gives you a break. Simply ignore negative behavior that is not important. Behaviors that are meant to get attention can be ignored as long as they are not abusive. Everyone in the family (or involved in caring for the child) must be in on this. The upside to this is that you will pay close attention to positive behavior. This is where your child will benefit the most and where you will start to see a new effort on their part to change.
4. Redirect interest. This skill requires creative thinking on your part. If your kid is not able to unstick themselves from the negative behavior, redirect them. Change what they are doing or what they are talking about. This will stop their mood depreciation. Use this concept with Selective Attention for even better results. You will be teaching them how uplifting doing something or thinking something positive can be.
Behavior management plans work best when the child is responsible for the positive change. These concepts can accomplish this without a lot of effort on your part.
