 Greet and Eat  Introduction  What is discipline?  Effective Techniques  Questions?????  Handouts Agenda:

Effective discipline at home

I am the boss! ¡Yo mando en esta casa!

What is discipline?

Discipline is the use of methods to teach children behavior guidelines. Teaching these guidelines should begin as the child begins to move around.

Discipline Teaches:  Self-control—they take control  Boundaries  Limits  Effective ways to solve problems  Behavior patterns that are acceptable to society **It should involve respect, support and encouragement as well as communication of limits and/or boundaries.

To get along in the world… O Children need some basic guidelines for behavior. O Adults have the responsibility to teach children how to behave. O Older brothers and sisters help by setting good examples.

Effective Techniques SET LIMITS WITH RULES Rules are necessary to protect a child from danger and set examples of acceptable behavior. Everyone is more confident and comfortable knowing how to act in a new situation.

Effective Techniques COMMUNICATION:  Tell the child what he or she should do rather than what they should not do!  Keep explanations simple and brief, they have limited vocabulary and a limited attention span.  Be prepared to repeat over and over to toddlers.  The difficult hostile child is the one who needs love and guidance the most!

Effective Techniques Continued POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT: O Praise Often! Children repeat the actions they are praised for. O Children give up any actions that are ignored by others.

Effective Techniques Continued REWARDS: O Reward the good behavior – don’t only notice the negative behavior. O Tell your child why she is being rewarded and why the behavior is good. O Make sure that the reward you are offering your child really is a reward to him/her. O Be immediate and direct with discipline and rewards – hugs are free!

Effective Techniques Continued CONSEQUENCES:  Ignoring: Removing all your attention from your child Not looking at or saying anything at all to your child as long as your child continues a negative behavior (i.e. whining, breaking toys, etc.)  Natural consequences: Allowing your child to understand and experience the natural outcome of their misbehavior.  “Because you threw your toy and broke it, you will not have that toy to play with anymore.”  Logical consequences: Arranged by parents and must logically follow the child’s behavior.  Not having clean clothes to wear is a logical consequence of not placing dirty clothes in the hamper.

EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES Continued BEHAVIOR CHARTS:  Reinforces positive behavior while decreasing negative behavior. Place a behavior chart on the refrigerator or the child’s bedroom door. Each time your child exhibits a behavior that is pleasing to you, give him/her a sticker.  IMPORTANT: Discuss ahead of time with your child what reward they would like to receive once they have earned a certain number of stickers.

Children with ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) involves:  Fidgeting/squirming  Inattentiveness  Work habits often disorganized  Easily distracted by irrelevant stimuli  Frequently interrupt ongoing tasks  Excessive running or climbing  Appear to be often “on the go”  Have difficulty playing or engaging quietly in leisure activities  Difficulty awaiting one’s turn **Attention and behavioral manifestations usually appear in multiple contexts, including home, school, work, and social settings. To make diagnosis some impairment must be present least two settings. American Psychiatric Association. (2000). DSM-IV-TR, 4 th Ed.

Strategies to use with ADHD children  Put a schedule up  Be aware of distractions/activities that can over stimulate  Put something in place before  Timer  Have them think for seconds before answering a question instead of answering impulsively  Frequently move around the room  Using dry-erase board for math problem solving  Separate the child from the behavior—it’s Okay to be frustrated

Types of Rewards  Social Rewards: Praising your child with words and gestures  Giving a hugs, high-fives, smiles  Material Rewards: Giving your child small toys or special treats that he likes  Stickers, special notes, coloring pages  Activity Rewards: Doing activities with your child that she likes  Reading to your child, playing a game together, going to the park *Remember, behaviors that are rewarded happen more often.*

REMEMBER  Set limits! So they know what is expected.  Be Consistent! Discipline the same way every time that behavior occurs.  Be Fair! It may vary from one child to another.  Be Firm! Stick to your rules. No negotiation.

Thank You!