perfect people. We can only do our best, and we all need help once in a while.

Today I am going to talk about behaviour problems and what to do about them.

Sometimes its hard to know what to do about children's behaviour. But your can teach your children to behave the way you want without spanking, screaming or spoiling.

You can teach good behaviour by giving praise and positive attention. Catch your child being good and praise him or her. Don't wait until they are doing something bad and punish them.

If you do not pay attention to your children until they do something wrong, they will learn to get your attention by being bad.

If they get attention by doing what parents want, then they will learn to behave as you would like.

Try ignoring certain irritating behaviour. Your child may be trying to get your attention. Some things children do, like whining or interrupting, can drive you crazy. If your child gets attention for doing these kinds of things, he will keep it up.

Irritating behaviour is best ignored. The trick is to ignore it every time.

When you start ignoring irritating behaviour it will get worse for a while.

Don't give up -- it will pass.

But remember, ignoring irritating behaviour works best when you also notice and praise good behaviour.

Sometimes changing your child's activity can help stop an irritating behaviour. If your child id doing something you don't like, give him something else to do. This works best with very young children.

You could also try other things like changing your child's surroundings (for example, Take the child for a walk or drive), limit where things can be done.

Having rules and helping your children obey them is an important part of teaching them to behave.

Children feel safer when they know that there are limits and rules. When making rules be sure your child is old enough to understand the rules you make. Explain them clearly and repeat them often (what they can do, what they can't do and why) so that it makes it easier for your child to behave.

Children can only obey rules they understand. Make as few rules as possible.

You don't want to overload them with too many rules.

Remember that family problems like divorce, death, fighting between parents, heavy drinking or unemployment can change the way children behave.

When small children are worried about something, they often wish they could go back to a time when they felt safer. They may begin to act like they are babies again. Some children whine, wet themselves, use baby talk, forget how to dress themselves or become clingy.

Children need to know what is going on in the family and that is not their fault. During difficult family times children need lots of love, attention and understanding. Child Development Project.