Dealing with difficult people

"There's always someone who doesn't want to live by rules," Mom says.  "You have to give him or her choices."  Let him move around if he can't sit still.  Look for activities that interest her...write it her way, read about it, talk with someone.  Sometimes it is hard to find a choice:  Do it now or stay in and do it when everyone else is outside playing for recess.

Choice is important because, at home, it may be different.  A parent may be domineering.  The child needs to feel that he or she has some freedom, some control. Not backed into a corner.

Mom moved quickly from the idea of dealing with difficult behavior to bringing out the desire to be cooperative.  It is important to catch all children being good sometimes, Mom said.  Not just the good students.  You can find a child being good by being a friend, being kind to someone, behaving, doing something helpful.

Mom said she used to give a ticket to a child who she caught "doing something good."  Later, the child could exchange the ticket for a piece of candy or other small prize from a jar.  "It really worked?" I asked.  It did, she said, "A kid will do anything for a Jolly Rancher."

Comments

[Helen Palmer]

Ticket System

I wonder if that would work for my project? :-)

"If you deliver me the latest figures I need, I'll give you a Business School Ticket which you can swap for a training related treat"