Managing 4 Year Old Behavior

The terrible two’s tend to get a bad rap, but sometimes the behavior of a four year old can be even more difficult to deal with. The parent of a four year old dreams that they might simply be obedient to them. It’s definitely not an easy task, but there are many ways to go about helping you achieve this end.

The following are five quick tips that will help you improve your four year old’s response to you.

First, be persistent in listening to your child. It is very important that you acknowledge what it is that they’re saying, and until you do, it is very difficult for a child to move beyond that thought. You can avoid fighting with your child by essentially entering the world that they’re describing. This is illustrated in acknowledging their desire such as when they find a toy in the store they want, simply acknowledging (without necessarily buying), “You’d like this toy, wouldn’t you?”

Second, when your child is acting up, be sure to tell them exact what you expect from them instead of telling them what you don’t want from them. It is simply a way to say the same thing but in positive terms. This alone can have a significant impact in the child’s closeness to you.

Third, discipline your child calmly. A calm punishment accompanied by an explanation as to why you are punishing them can be very effective. It is also important not to apologize when punishing your child. What you are doing is not wrong, and if you refrain from doing it, it might only perpetuate the bad behavior. Apologizing to your child is very important at times, but only when you know that you are in the wrong. Simply because punishment is painful to them does not make it wrong.

Finally, follow through with the punishments you have alluded to. Failure to do so reduces the integrity of your word and confuses the child. If you threaten, “If you don’t do this then you’re not going to go to your friend’s house tomorrow,” and they fail to do what you asked, it is imperative that you do not take your child to their friend’s house. It is also important therefore that threats not be unrealistic in their punishment. It may scare the child, but if you are to keep your word, the punishment might not fit the crime. Make sure your child understands that you are someone who follows through on their words.

By: quicken

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