The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Strategies for improving your child’s behaviour

Children who misbehave often do so because they’re insecure—they need assurances of self-worth and acceptance, both at home and at school. Unless it’s damaging, ignore attention-seeking behaviour.

Featured here is advice regarding discipline.

• Reacting to misguided behaviour often reinforces it.
• Build self-confidence through praise and encouragement.
• Give your child lots of attention when he or she is being cooperative.
• Spend time with your child every day.
• Talk or listen with complete attention, including physical closeness and eye contact.
• Set an example by respecting the law and the rights of others.
• Keep rules simple, few in number, reasonable and enforceable.
• Learn the school’s regulations regarding sudent behaviour.
• Don’t preach, nag or say, “I told you so.”
• Never insult or laugh at your child.
• Use humour to lighten a confrontation. Instead of stressing how bad or wrong an action was, ask for information or clarification and turn the problem into a learning experience.
• Don’t automatically side with your child against other adults, neighbours, teachers or police officers. Find out first, from everyone involved, exactly what happened.
• Avoid power struggles. When emotional stress is evident, go to another room and cool down. Talk about the problem later.
• Match the punishment with the misdeed. Being sent to the bedroom, standing in the corner, having privileges curtailed or being made to apologize are all effective punishments.

Always remember that assistance is close at hand—from professionals such as teachers, doctors and clergy members, or from provincial and municipal family services. Many communities have a distress line that one can call for advice and referrals.
—The Alberta Teachers’ Association