Things You'll Need:
- Patience
- Persistence
- Guts
- Determination
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Step 1
Positive reinforcement is a good alternative to negative discipline. You will use a merit for good behavior and a demerit for bad behavior. You will need to make two charts. One will be a month long calendar divided into weeks and the other will be a daily chart with labels for morning, afternoon, and evening. Make it fun by getting the kids involved in making a calendar with some construction paper. A dry erase board might work better for you. You decide.
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Step 2
Write down what behaviors will earn a merit and what will earn a demerit. For example, doing the chores earns a merit, while sassing Mom earns a demerit. Tell the kids they will get one warning for bad behavior and then a demerit. If they behave well in the morning, they get a merit in the morning. Likewise, they will earn a demerit for bad behavior. You decide how many times it takes to get a demerit.
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Step 3
At the end of each day, place a merit or demerit sticker on the monthly calendar for that day. Each day they earn a merit, they earn some kind of reward.
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Step 4
The type of reward given and the amount of time required to earn the reward is limited only by your imagination. Some parents award one-on-one time with each child. Others allow a trip to the dollar store. Some kids get their reward each week, while others wait until the end of the month. Try this time-honored method with your children. It will not hurt anyone, and it has to be better than yelling.
