Instructions

• First of all, let me establish a few facts. Children are not born hardboiled eggs, hardened and stubborn. A lot of who they are reflects the people around them and the situations they are exposed to.
• Express non-verbal disapproval. If your child is doing something naughty or is on the verge of a tantrum, shake your head slowly, raise your eyebrows or frown. Children don’t always understand why parents frown down at them but they do understand that whatever they’re doing is clearly annoying.
• Talk to your kids before you leave home. In fact, it’s a good idea to tell them that they need to be on their best behavior when they are out with you or you will simply leave them at home. It’s a threat that works!
• Praise good behavior and those occasions when they listen to you. Children need to know the difference between good behavior and annoying behavior.
• Children watch their parents very carefully and know exactly what sort of behavior is bound to annoy them. So if he is adamant about a toy on the shelf, you can definitely expect a scene of sorts if you intend to leave without buying it. Don’t be frightened by his tantrums. Eventually he will wear himself out and soon be distracted by other things.
• Children are quite shrewd when it comes to understanding your tactics. For instance, if you try and distract your child with another less expensive toy, he is bound to catch on that you are drawing his attention away from what he really wants. Make sure it is something entirely new or something that you know he loves.