Change Your Child's Attitude: Kids Corner

Aired on Lifetime Television
Sunday, February 5 and March 19, 2006
Show 305

Are your children are just flat out rude and disrespectful? Here are some guidelines for keeping young attitudes in check. Whether they are testing their limits or pushing yours, there are key steps you can take to break a bad attitude. Start little. If your toddler is being naughty, it is okay to skip the "three times and you are in a time out" rule. Some experts think it is better to just nip bad behavior in the bud. Children are not too young to learn bad behavior brings consequences. Let us say your older child forgets about homework until bedtime. That is bad behavior. Instead of letting him stay up late, set the alarm for a half hour earlier in the morning. That is the consequence. If your daughter leaves clothes all over, instead of taking away the phone, try taking the clothes until she has changed. Wearing the same outfit every day will change an attitude. To see why a bad habit is happening, try this trick. Fold a piece of paper in quarters. In one block write what is bothering you. In the next, write when he does it. Then write where it happens and then who he does it with. Flip it over and write how you are going to change things so your child is not in a situation that leads him into acting out. And do not forget the good side between behavior and consequence. Catch your child doing something good and let him know about it. Hugs and compliments go a long way to change a bad attitude into a great attitude.