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Positive Parenting and Discipline Strategies

By Kristin Bailey Murphy

If you're the parent of a perfect child -- one that never misbehaves (God forbid!), whines, or talks back; never argues with you, fibs to you or makes a disaster of his room (right after you've cleaned it) -- then keep on moving! This article isn't for you. However, if your child is guilty of any (or all) of the above bad behaviors, listen up. Here, Noel Janis-Norton, a child behavior specialist of 30 years, author of four books, and founder of the Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting seminars, shares her three top strategies for getting the best behavior out of even the most temperamental child.

Descriptive Praise

Instead of lecturing your children when they do something wrong, try praising them when they do something right. Sounds simple, doesn't it? It is simple, according to Janis-Norton, but it can be trickier for parents than you'd think. "Because humans are more inclined to notice what's wrong in a situation, we are much more aware when there's a problem," she says. "It takes hard work and discipline to notice when children are doing things right, such as not whining or not interrupting."
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