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General Parenting Practices
Adapted from Russell Barkley, Ph.D.
Principles
Parents are Shepherds, Not Engineers: Strive to Enjoy Your Children as Individuals
Rather Than Trying to Redesign Them to Be Like Others, Accept Children for Who They Are
Use Immediate Feedback
Act, Don't Yak
Keep Your Sense of Humor
Use Rewards Before Punishment
Anticipate Problem Settings–Make a Plan
Keep a Sense of Priorities
Practice Forgiveness (Child, Self, Others)
Shape Behavior Through Reinforcement Techniques
Consider Establishing a Home Token System
Use Fines, Time-out
Heavily Praise High Compliance Commands Initially
Use Imperatives, Not Questions
Use Eye Contact, Touching When Communicating
Child Recites Request
Make Complex Chores Simpler (if necessary)
Reduce Time Delays for Consequences
Reward Throughout the Task
Time Out Procedure
- For Household Rules—Instant Time-out
- Deliver command as a 3-step sequence
- Command (5 count, backwards)
- Warning (5 counts, backwards, raise voice)
- Initiate time-out, if noncompliant
- Release From Time-out Contingent on:
- Serving minimum period (1-2 minutes/year of age)
- Must be quiet during time-out
- Then consent to and do command
- Afterwards, Reward Next Good Behavior
- If Child Escapes Time-out:
- Increase length of time-out does not work
- Consider using fines in Token System
- Use bedroom for time-out (remove fun objects from room); close and lock door if in extreme situations
Joe Peraino, Ph.D. works as a professional coach and psychologist. Contact him at joe@joeperaino.com
Keywords: Family, Parenting, Children, Discipline
For more information, contact Joe Peraino by phone (713-859-7759)
or by e-mail joe@joeperaino.com