7 Ways To Prevent Children’s Behavioral Problems

Child behavioral disorders are one of the stressors that unite parents, educators, and teachers. Even if we haven’t had to directly experience them, we know that bad manners and challenging behaviors can be a real concern. The good news, however, is that prevention of children’s behavioral problems is possible, and the problems associated with it can be solved.

Preventing children’s behavior problems is time consuming and requires effort. Dedication to the issue can still save a lot of time in the long run and result in a happier and better family life.

Central to preventing child behavior problems

Children and adolescents are symptomatic for many reasons. Central to preventing behavioral problems is trying to understand what the child wants and what motivates him or her to act in a certain way.

It is also important to keep track of the circumstances that trigger a certain type of problem behavior so that you can determine the extent to which you can positively reinforce him or her. Although each child has their own different needs, there are some universally valid ways in which the prevention of children’s behavioral problems can succeed.

Building a healthy relationship

A healthy relationship with a child or young person encourages him or her to behave well. When children and young people feel loved and respected, they are more likely to follow the rules and behave well.

In order to maintain a healthy relationship, an adult must give the child a lot of attention. You should talk to him about all sorts of things, have fun and laugh together.  In the end, it’s just a matter of giving the child attention and listening when he or she wants to talk about his or her problems. It would also be good to do fun things with the child and involve him or her in making important decisions. The stronger the relationship you have with your child, the more likely he or she is to not only listen to you, but also follow the rules of fair play.

Rules and consequences

The best rules are clear and well justified. It’s not just about good behavior, it’s also about providing guidance that serves as a recommendation and helps children develop healthy self-esteem. Children should know exactly what is expected of them by these rules.

On the other hand, the consequences of breaking the rules should be made clear and in advance. Referring to the consequences, it is important to know that they do not mean the same as revenge.  Above all, the consequences should lead to a positive outcome.

Teach what is appropriate behavior

The child does not always know how to behave in certain circumstances. So it is important to assess what is happening in each situation.  Is the child nervous? Does he know how to react to a stressful situation? Is the situation superior to him?

Once a problem is found, it is important to teach the child to understand and manage their own feelings. It is also important to teach him that there are other behaviors and socially acceptable ways to express themselves. Besides, when a child understands his or her feelings, he or she is more likely to behave well.

Set boundaries and create schedules

Many misbehaving children change for the better when they have clear and systematic routines tailored to their needs and abilities. A child needs time to study, rest, play sports and leisure to do what he or she wants.  He also needs enough time for meals and a sleep schedule that allows for your own free time.

It is easier for children to behave well when they have clear routines and the opportunity to communicate with the adults they trust and enjoy their company.

Be positive and give recognition for good things

When a child behaves badly, the things in which he or she does well are often overlooked. For this reason, we need to pay attention to his positive behavior and reinforce it.  It is at the same time a means to grow, provide guidance and improve a child’s self-esteem.

When a child does something well, it must be recognized and rewarded. This does not always have to be a materialistic reward, but can be a smile, a hug or a kiss, and verbal recognition. Even a mere kiss is enough to give the child positive reinforcement and give him an idea of ​​what is acceptable.

Ignore negative behavior

The goal of this technique is to ignore the behavior you want to end. It doesn’t work for just about every bad behavior, but it still works well in many cases. This is because some situations require immediate attention.

Responding to bad behavior often only reinforces it in many cases. It’s good to remember that when a child is symptomatic of their behavior, the reason is often that he or she wants attention. Therefore, in such a situation, he should be ignored, for in the end he will get tired and quit.

The problem is that unwanted behavior is likely to get worse as you start taking advantage of this technology.  For this reason, it is important for you to stay strong until it starts to work. This technique should also be complemented by follow-up activities, such as teaching alternative behavior.

Limit mobile phone usage and playing time

Mobile phones and games can promote violent behavior among young people. They also cause social isolation and, in addition to unwanted behavior, lead to general addictive behavior.

This is a sensitive issue that should not be left out. Instead, we should teach children and young people to use technology responsibly. In this way, many behavioral problems can be avoided.

The importance of stress management

Stress from the environment, especially from parents or teachers, can also start to stress a child. In fact, in a quiet environment and surrounded by adults who control their emotions and impulses, a growing child is less likely to experience problem use.