enquiries@rodlaird.co.uk »
Freephone 0800 612 0910
Freefax 0800 612 0920
Now taking bookings
Bookmark and Share

10 top tips you can use to deal with challenging children (01 Sep 12)

“It takes a village to raise a child” – so parents and carers sometimes need all the help they can get if they have a difficult child


It’s been said that successfully bringing up difficult children calls for “tough love”.

This is because parents must give them all the love in the world but also need to be very firm and unwavering in the boundaries they set for them.

It’s also true that parents sometimes need lots of help and support which is why we are putting on our one day training course How Housing Officers Can Help Residents Be Better Parents.

In the meantime I have asked Fin O’Regan who has years of experience of the subject to put together 10 tips on what to do with challenging children.

You might like to pass these onto other housing officers who may have to give support or advice to parents. Or perhaps you might even know someone personally who can benefit.

Here they are:

  1. Help parents or carers to outline clear expectations with their children with agreed rewards and consequences.
  2. Make sure children know they are responsible for their actions - no matter if they give you responses like “he made me”, “she started it” or “I’m tired”.
  3. Advise parents to be consistent in their approach and handle disruptions with a response that includes no emotion and not too much talking. Always use body language that isn’t aggressive and always offer the child an escape hatch to calm down.
  4. Catch them doing it right. Praise them four times as many times as you correct their behaviour.
  5. Sometimes look for the draw. Defiant children enjoy

    Like to read more or make a comment? Log in or register below



    Why not join the discussion!

    Or even better still offer your own advice and tell us about things that others can learn from.

    We moderate comments lightly so bear with us and we'll get your thoughts listed as soon as we can.

    You must be logged in to post comments.

    Not registered yet? Simply fill in the box below.

    Email
    Password

    Like to have access to this and hundreds of other articles like it? Register now!

    Just pop your details in the form below, and you'll have full access to our library as well as receiving the free articles you have requested.

    Research and evaluation
    Resident involvement
    Community involvement
    Patient involvement
    Communications & marketing
    Equality and diversity
    Community safety
    All of these
    Your work email

    Already subscribed? Want to manage your account? »

Log in

New?

Register now to benefit from hundreds of free hints, tips, articles and interviews

Your email address:

Contact us»

Latest Twitter updates

Want a course on this subject?

How Housing Officers Can Help Residents Be Better Parents