Begin to think of the amount of time that your child spends at 10 and at 1 and you will realize that most of the time he falls somewhere in between. The key to preventing problem behavior is found when your child reaches 6. This is the teachable moment, the time to plan for good behavior and to structure the environment to prevent him from spiraling down to a 1.
What steps can you take when your child reaches 6 to prevent him from moving down into poor behavior? Is he rested or tired? Is he hungry or full? What stressors can be removed? What behavior does he need to learn and practice? What coping skills does he need to deal with inevitable stress?
This is the perfect time to communicate with your child. Listen to his feelings nonjudgmentally. Clearly state your expectations, the consequences for poor behavior, and the benefits of good behavior. Then, help him plan with very specific behaviors how to move up the continuum, not down.
First page > My Child Has a Problem - What's a Parent to Do?
