Managing Misbehaviour

Managing Misbehaviour

1. Clear Ground Rules

   • Small number of rules
   • Should be fair
   • Easy to follow
   • Followed up with consequences
   • Stated positively

2. Directed Discussion

   • 1. Get child's attention
   • 2. State the problem briefly and calmly
   • 3. Say why it is a problem
   • 4. Describe what they should do
   • 5. Let your child practise what they should do
   • 6. Praise

3. Planned Ignoring

   • For minor problem behaviours
   • Don't look at or talk to your child
   • Stay calm
   • Stop ignoring if the behaviour stops or changes to a more serious behaviour problem

4. Clear Calm Instructions

   • 1. Get close and gain child's attention
   • 2. Tell your child what to do
   • 3. Give your child time to cooperate
   • 4. Praise cooperation
   • 5. Repeat once if a `Start Instruction`
   • 6. Back up your instruction with consequences if instruction not followed

5. Logical Consequences

   • 1. Take away the activity
   • 2. Short period of time, tell them how long
   • 3. Return the activity
   • 4. Use another consequence if necessary

6. Quiet Time

   • Edge of the activity, same room
   • Up to 5 minutes
   • Tell them why they are going to Quiet Time, and for how long
   • When Quiet Time is finished, find them something to do, and praise them if they play nicely
   • If Quiet Time doesn't work, use Time Out

7. Time Out

   • Use a quiet, safe and uninteresting place
   • Tell them why they are going to Time Out and for how long
   • Up to 5 minutes from when they are quiet
   • Ignore misbehaviours in Time Out
   • Persist and stay calm
   • If Time Out is not working after 2 weeks, be prepared to seek medical help