Toddler Behavior Chart

 Disciplining your children doesn't always have to mean punishing. Why not try to keep positive feelings in your home? For family night tonight we are talking about how we can make our home a more happy home. We are doing this by coming to an agreement on how to discipline our children as parents and following through with those ideas.

 This is what we came to an agreement upon: Reinforcing good behavior and Redirecting unwanted behavor.

 This, we hope will kick the habit to yell, spank, get very, very mad...throw things....I am just kidding don't call social services yet. We have tried time-outs in the past, and while sometimes it works, the un-wanted behavior is still escalating. Some would say, well my kids are only toddlers. Yes, it is true, toddlers will be toddlers, but it is our job as parents to teach them. So including talking, ABCs and 123's, my toddlers are totally able to learn how to behave as well.

 Every toddler is different, and so some things have not worked for my toddlers, that work for other toddlers...this includes time-outs to some extent. So we have decided to use time-outs for bigger problems and here are the other rules and things we decided to follow listed below, under lesson.

Preparation:

1. Make a Behavior chart: see picture of mine below as an example, here are more examples: google behavior chart images, or print one off from this link: http://www.latitudes.org/behavior_charts/weekly_chart_bright.pdf,

(The first thing with a child behavior chart is to keep it simple and according to age. Your child needs to be at least 18 months to get it. Start with one behavior if it is too overwhelming for your toddler. You will know it is overwhelming them, if they could care less about the chart.)

2. Print off "Don't Eat Pete" and see what I am talking about here: Go to TREAT part of lesson.

3. Buy a bag of M&Ms and stickers for behavior chart.



LESSON:
Go over in front of your children, these, or your own discipline changes you are implementing into your home.

Training: When your toddler is doing something wrong, remove them from that behavior, tell them No, and explain what is wrong and why.

Re-directing: Get the child involved in something else.

Behavior Reward Chart: Reward behavior that is good!

Yes Places: Instead of saying no all the time, provide yes places, where the behavior is alright. For example: Taking out stuff in the cupboards, not ok for dangerous spots, ok for Tupperware cupboard.

Acknowledge Feelings: A toddler is crying obviously because they are upset, acknowledge that you understand they are upset and talk to them about why they feel that way.

Time Outs: Reserve for the very bad behavior (mostly because my toddler isn't listening to me). Sometimes a toddler needs to cool down and think about what the've done. To begin with, tell them why they are in time-out. Make it a specific place every time (rugs, chairs, corners, not rooms), and give a minute for each year of age. Set the timer and once it is over they can play again. If they don't stay in time out, put them back and start the timer again. 2+ years is when most kids start to comprehend.

Taking Turns: Ok, sharing is hard for a toddler. Instead of using the word share because sometimes one toddler did have it first, but won't give it up, or one took the toy and it really is the other child's toy...but shouldn't they share? I find it too complicated. So I have reverted to "so and so gets the toy first, and then you will get a turn..."

Giving Choices: What toddler doesn't have control issues? So giving 2-3 choices makes them feel like they have some power over their lives. Some examples: Do you want to give the other kid a turn, or loss your sticker (reward chart) for the day? Do you want to play nice with brother, or play by yourself in your room?

Be consistent: It only confuses a toddler when one time they are told no, and another time they get away with it. It only makes it harder on the parents as well, because they have to keep re-training.

Explain behavior chart to your toddler/s.
This is your toddler good behavior chart, when I catch you doing good, you get to put stickers on the chart. When the chart is full, you get a prize! (Explain what behaviors are good) For this round the prize is this movie: The Princess and the Frog (Single Disc Widescreen).

For doing a good job listening, you get to put 4 stars on the chart! (This will be sure to get them excited)

Treat: M&Ms and Game: Don't Eat Pete

He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him bedtimes.

- Proverbs 13:24