We are in testing times when we are asked to stay at home and play roles that may be new to us; full-time parent, teacher, cleaner, chef, master of everything... it seems exhausting and some people may struggle to support behaviour at home.
If you have cracked it and things are working in your household then keep going, and feel free to ignore any of this!
But for those of you who are feeling isolated, lonely and at a loss of what to do please read on. You may just find something useful.
Behaviour management tips
Clear boundaries and expectations:
Whether you agree or not, boundaries are an important tool for children and young people. They need to be guided and behaviour needs to be modelled so that they are given the tools to help themselves.
If we want children to eat at the table, use their inside voices, tidy their bedroom or limit their screen time, then we must model this behaviour and do the same. This way when (not if) boundaries are pushed and challenged we can discuss why. Be clear on what you expect and stick to it where you can.
There can be plenty of flexibility within these boundaries, so try not to view them as a strict regime to be followed, try to think of them as guidelines on how everyone can all work together to create a happy home.
For example, if you work from home and have zoom meetings daily, then it is important for you to give expectations of what you expect your children to do during this time. If you have younger children, try to think of activities that will engage them for a period of time, and that they can do independently. I find a choice of activities can be useful so you know they will be occupied but they have a sense of freedom as they can make their own decision. Don’t be afraid to allow them to be bored; so much creativity and cognitive learning is done at these points so allow children to explore this feeling.
Rewards and Sanctions:
It is key to focus on positivity. Always praise for the behaviour you want to see and keep the special rewards for any that go beyond that. It is important to focus on the small things now and encourage positivity. Using a reward chart is a great way to do this, but this is a personal preference.
Try to ensure whatever you do is age-appropriate, something that is interesting for your child. Remember, if your child attends nursery or school then they are used to similar systems, but try not to replicate school.
Children need to feel safe and secure at home, so have some fun with it. There are huge positive benefits of laughing until you lose all inhibitions, and play like a child. It is such a cathartic exercise which will be great for yourself, whilst bringing your family closer together!
The following quote truly sums up where our focus should be.
So have fun and keep smiling. Tomorrow is another day!
Here are some other ideas from the internet that might be worth a try!
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