Always end on a positive

Always end with a positive!

This can apply to any age when it comes to parenting. We HAVE to say "no" sometimes. Sometimes it's just "no". But when we say no we have remember that kids can't do a no. So try to end on a positive and on something they can do.

For my ten month old it might be "no, you can't play with the dog food but here play with this ball."

For a two or three year old it may be "no you can't draw on the wall but how bout you and mommy draw a picture for daddy on this piece of paper".

For a teenager "no you can't go to that party but why don't we have your friends over here and do something fun that night with them."

When I was a kindergarten teacher if I really needed my kids to follow my directions exactly, I would always magnify what I needed them to do. I would magnify those students doing exactly what I wanted them to do. I would encourage and reward the behavior I was looking for. This inevitably created a classroom full of 20 different 5 years olds that wanted nothing more than to obey the rules and follow my directions. Being positive and encouraging will always win in the long run. Magnify the good, look for your children doing something good, reward their good behavior. In life they will have to hear the word "no" but let's train their minds now immediately think of what the CAN do when the hear the word "no".