Be Consistent Consistency is the best way to get positive results. It is a commonly known fact that being consistent when setting up and maintaining a discipline routine is very important. If your child has special needs it may take him longer to understand the relationship between a behavior and a response. If you do not maintain a standard and consistent behavior plan, he may learn to not take you serious or to disrespect you. It is also important for your behavior plan to be accepted and enforced with all the adults involved (i.e. both parents, teachers, therapists, etc.). It will be easier for him to learn appropriate behaviors if he receives the same reaction or response for a behavior no matter the environment.
Create and Maintain A Routine
This goes hand-in-hand with being consistent. Having a routine each day allows your child to prepare herself for the day ahead. It may benefit her to have a schedule board or calendar that she can look at every morning. Every day does not need to have exactly the same routine, though it will be most beneficial for it to be somewhat similar. You want her to be able to accept and successfully navigate change, and by providing slightly different daily routines will help make the transition easier.
Be Positive
Negative behavior can be very frustrating, especially if there is an ongoing struggle to correct it. If you become negative or focus on the negative, he will pick up on your behavior and follow suit. A good rule to live by is to say more positive things then negative things every day. Some days it may be difficult to do, but praising good behavior or attitude, while not focusing or lingering on the negative can go a long way.
Make Rules Simple and Clear
Making sure your child understands the rules, consequences, and rewards is important. The easiest way to ensure she is not confused or misunderstands what is expected is to make it simple, clear, and concise. There are no awards or any benefits for using fancy words or expressions.
Give One Warning / Reminder
We all have moments of forgetfulness, so providing a stern but gentle warning, that serves not only as a reminder but as forewarning of what is to come if he continues with his current behavior. The only time the one warning/reminder rule should not be followed is if he or someone else is in danger because of his behavior, then he should be stopped immediately.
Reinforce and Model Positive Behaviors
When you get a desired behavior make sure you use praise or reward every time to reinforce to your child that this was the behavior you want from a certain situation. Even a simple “good job” or “I’m proud of you” can go a long way in reinforcing positive responses. You might be surprised to know how much she learns from watching you and other adults. Modeling good behavior is the best way to reinforce the desired behavior. After all, children do not understand or grasp the concept of “do as I say, and not as I do”. Sources: EzineArticles.com | eHow.com | KidsHealth.org Discipline and Your Child Shandy Marso, Contributor
