Relaxation

• When your child misbehaves, your first impulse may be to spank or isolate him. Instead, consider the emotions and motives he may have had for behaving that way. Stop what you are doing, take a deep breath, count to 10 and take a brief walk with him to calm down. Ask him why he behaved that way and how he is feeling now. Take his hand and sit down with him in the kitchen. Have a cup of juice or tea together, create a relaxed atmosphere and discuss his behavior. Let him know that you are not going to react angrily or harshly; this will help sooth your child, reduce the chances of a future offense and may even eliminate misbehavior as an attention-getting ploy.
  
  

Preventative Measures

• Sometimes misbehavior could have been avoided by taking simple steps. For example, your eight-year-old twins would not have broken the vase if it weren't sitting in the middle of the coffee table. Your teenager would not have been "sexting," if she didn't have text-message capabilities. You know better than your child, so remove as much as you can the potential for poor judgment or bad behavior. Talk to your child about the everyday potential for making bad decisions and stress that you want to prevent that in any way you can.
  
  

Communication

• When you sense that your child is feeling angry, stop what you are doing and ask why. Encourage him to punch a pillow or run around the house to let out anger instead of doing something he knows is wrong, such as hitting a sibling. If your child acts out because he is hungry or anxious, remind him that you are there for him and want to know when he needs something to eat or has a problem. If your teen lies to you, talk to him. Ask him to explain why he thought he needed to lie. Reiterate that lying is hurtful and that you will never be angry with him for telling the truth. Be open with your child, and he will learn that he doesn't need to fear speaking honestly with you.
  
  

Positive Reinforcement

• Applaud your child when she behaves well and follows instructions. When your tween returns from a neighbor's house punctually, give her a hug and tell her you really appreciate how grown-up and responsible she is. When your five-year-old comforts a crying classmate, tell her you're so proud of her for being a good friend and caring about others. Take positive notice of your child's good deeds and behavior and she will grow to desire that attention more than taking part in bad behavior. Even when she does misbehave, tell her you are very disappointed, but you know she can do better. Then -- praise her when she does.