By Brad Ainge, Co-Author of Positive Discipline Parenting Tools Children learn life skills, develop social interest, and feel capable by helping out at home. 1) Brainstorm a family job list together. 2) Create fun ways to rotate jobs, such as a job wheel with a spinner, job charts, or a job jar for “fishing” out […]
Category Archives: Parents
Agreements – A Positive Discipline Tool Card
agreements-parents-web.jpg Why don’t children keep their agreements? Could it be that sometimes parents and teachers say, “This is what we are going to do. Do you agree?” When the question is asked in an authoritarian manner that doesn’t leave room for discussion, children often shrug in agreement, which really means, “Sure, I’ll agree to […]
Teach Children What to Do
teach-children-what-to-do-web.jpg An excerpt from the book Positive Discipline The First Three Years. This tool is also referred to as “Do vs Don’t.” Children under the age of three do not understand “no” in the way most parents think they do. (And, a full understanding of “no” doesn’t occur magically when the child turns three. […]
NATURAL CONSEQUENCES
natural-consequences-tool-card.jpg by Dr. Jane Nelsen A Positive Discipline Parenting Tool Card A natural consequence is anything that happens naturally, with no adult interference. When you stand in the rain, you get wet. When you don’t eat, you get hungry. When you forget your coat, you get cold. No piggy backing allowed. Adults piggy back […]
Avoid Pampering
by Jane Nelsen avoid-pampering-web.jpg A Positive Discipline Tool Card Parents make a mistake when they pamper in the name of love. Pampering creates weakness because children develop the belief that others should do everything for them. One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is to allow them to develop the belief, “I […]
Listening Tool Card
listen-parenting-tool-web.jpg From the Positive Discipline Parenting Tool Cards. Also available as an App for iPhone and Android. Many parents complain that their children don’t listen, yet few parents really listen to their children. Children will listen to you after they feel listened to. Notice how often you interrupt, explain, defend your position, lecture, or give […]
Encouragement vs Praise
A Positive Discipline Tool Card Rudolf Dreikurs taught, “A child needs encouragement like a plant needs water.” In other words, encouragement is essential. Children may not die without encouragement, but they certainly wither. Since encouragement is so essential, it would be good for parents to know what encouragement means and how to […]
Break the Code of Misbehavior
by Jane Nelsen break-the-code-parents-web.jpg When children are misbehaving, they are speaking to adults in code. A misbehaving child is a discouraged child. The primary goal of all children is to feel a sense of belonging and significance. Too often they form a mistaken belief about how to seek belonging and significance—as explained in the Mistaken Goal […]
Decide What You Will Do
decide-what-you-will-do-parents.jpg A Positive Discipline Tool Card The Jones family is very excited. They have just finished planning a day at the beach. Seven-year-old Jason and five-year-old Jenny have promised that they won’t fight. Mr. Jones, has warned, “If you do, we’ll turn around and come back.” “We won’t, we won’t,” promise Jason and Jenny […]
Kind and Firm Parenting
kind-blog.jpg A foundation of Positive Discipline is to be kind and firm at the same time. Some parents are kind, but not firm. Others are firm, but not kind. Many parents vacillate between the two—being too kind until they can’t stand their kids (who develop an entitlement attitude) and then being too firm until they […]