Improving Your Child’s Behavior – Tips From Psychologists

Is it possible to parent, work remotely, homeschool children, and manage their behavior? The COVID-19 pandemic has many parents asking themselves this question as they attempt to take on multiple full-time roles. These simple, evidence-based techniques can help parents manage their children’s behavior, saving them time and energy in the long run.

About This Video

As parents try to adapt to their increased and seemingly unmanageable workload, dealing with their children’s less-than-perfect behavior is one of the many challenges that they face. It is easy to feel as if there is not enough time in the day to accomplish everything and managing children’s behavior has become increasingly difficult. The good news is that there are a number of techniques that can help. While these strategies are geared toward elementary and middle school-aged kids, their principles can be applied to people of any age.

McLean’s Julia Martin-Burch, PhD, Lauren Santucci, PhD, and Michelle Silverman, PhD, outline three tools—child-directed play, labeled praise, and active ignoring. When put to use, these tools are effective in helping parents to reinforce children’s positive behaviors and minimize their negative, attention-seeking actions. Parents are also reminded to be gentle and patient with themselves, and to care for their own emotional well-being so that they can in turn help their children.