Behavior Archives - Sleeping Should Be Easy

How to Avoid Giving Your Child Empty Threats

Jan 08, 2022

How many times have you threatened your kids with a consequence, only to not actually enforce it? Learn how to avoid giving empty threats. "If you don't stop, we're not going to the park!" I hollered at my kids. They had been fighting over a toy, for what seemed like the tenth time that day. But instead of instant submission—or even a pause—they refused to listen. The threat of not going outside to play wasn't enough to get them to stop fighting. Sure, they may have been too involved to fully grasp the threat, or maybe not going to the park wasn't enough of a motivation to … [Read more...]

Why Redirecting Children’s Behavior Works Better Than Distracting

Behavior

Jan 01, 2022

You've likely used distraction to curb your child's behavior, but found that it backfired. Learn why redirecting children's behavior is a better option to discipline a child. My kids were fighting over the same fire truck... again. Tired of the arguing, pleading, and tears, I scrambled to find something to break up the fight. I dug into the storage bin and found old toys they hadn't played with in a while. "Look, check out this new board game!" I announced, and as I predicted, the fight ended as they scampered toward the new toy. The fire truck sat untouched, no longer a hot issue to cry … [Read more...]

How to Deal with a Child That Cries Over Everything

Behavior

Dec 19, 2021

Wondering how to deal with a child that cries over everything? These 7 phrases will guide your overly sensitive child through this stage. The blanket that isn't set exactly the way she wants. The artwork that got bent along the corner. A sibling playing with the toy she wanted to play with. Let's not forget the stuffed animal that wasn't where she left it, the finished cookie, or the sandwich cut the wrong way. These are just some of the things my kids have cried easily about, enough to drive me crazy. In short, they cry about anything that isn't exactly their way. Sure, it helps that … [Read more...]

How to Stop Preschool Behavior Problems

Behavior

Dec 16, 2021

Overwhelmed with your child's preschool behavior problems that are out of control and getting worse? Find out what is normal and what to do. Hearing that your child has been behaving poorly at preschool can come as a shock for many moms, especially when we don't see it at home. Maybe your child's teacher reported that he's been hitting, kicking, and pushing other kids during play time. Or that he refuses to follow directions and can't seem to sit still like the others do. He doesn't know how to control his anger when he doesn't get his way. He might even yell at nap time to wake the … [Read more...]

Top Toddler Discipline Books to Get Your Child to Listen

Behavior

Oct 29, 2021

Struggling with your child's behavior? Read these best toddler discipline books and discover mindful and positive parenting tips. If there was ever a role requiring on-the-job learning, it’s being a parent. Think about it: There’s no college degree in how to be a parent. We don’t study for the role in school or get a formal review or report card to tell us how we’re doing. We patch pieces together, testing each step of the way to figure it out. No wonder we’re flying by the seat of our pants, making it up as we go along. I was especially reminded of this when I was in the thick of … [Read more...]

How to Raise Kids Who WANT to Behave (Even when No One Is Looking)

Behavior

Oct 01, 2021

Wouldn't it be great if children behaved because they wanted to? Learn how to raise kids who WANT to behave, even when no one is looking. We have it backwards sometimes. Plenty of parenting advice discusses kids' misbehavior and how to get through their outbursts. We deal with tantrums, follow through with consequences, and pick our battles. All good stuff. Except, what if we could raise kids who want to behave, even when no one is looking? Kids will act up and misbehave, no doubt—even we adults do. We're raising kids, not robots, after all. In fact, we should worry if they never … [Read more...]

One Sure Way to Prevent Misbehavior in Children

Behavior

Sep 28, 2021

Parenting would be so much easier if we could prevent misbehavior from even starting. Turns out, we can. Here's one sure way to do so. Do you ever get those days when it feels like your kids didn't act up? Every day, you're consoling another tantrum or dealing with whining. Well, I learned there's one thing we could do to avoid most of these outbursts—and it wasn't just waiting until "it gets better." By making changes, we can reduce and even prevent misbehavior in children. One sure way to prevent misbehavior in children And it all starts with this: Meet your child's … [Read more...]

How to Respond When Your 3 Year Old Tantrums Every Day

Behavior

Sep 26, 2021

Dealing with 3 year old tantrums every day is exhausting. Learn what’s normal for kids, as well as what to do if tantrums are getting worse. Apparently, it was "opposite day" for my 3 year old. When we went outside, he wanted to go inside (only to change his mind once I obliged). Later, he wanted to go for a walk, but complained that he was tired, leaving me to carry him the rest of the way home. And when we were finally indoors for good, he threw a fit because he wanted to leave the door open. Never mind that all the while, I was trying to take his shoes and jacket off. For many … [Read more...]

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